CAPE TOWN — South African Deputy President David Mabuza reassured sceptics that privatizing struggling energy company Eskom is not an option for the ANC government.
Mabuza was responding to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) who asked him the question in the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon.
EFF, however, said they remained sceptical about the disengagement process with party leader Julius Malema on recording accusing Pravin Gordhan of being behind the plot to privatise the power utility.
But Mabuza said splitting the energy company into three separate entities does not mean it intends to privatize it.
According to the deputy president, privatization is not a solution to Eskom’s problems.
He said the maintenance and performance of the facility had nothing to do with privatization or public ownership of the utility.
“With major and unexpected outages to our aging fleet and power plants contributing to load shedding, we are naturally focused on improving maintenance and repairs to ensure greater power availability.”
Mabuza said only the government can ensure that all South Africans have access to electricity.
“As we have said before, privatization is not in sight, so we rule it out, we have to deal with the challenges that Eskom is facing.”
Mabuza added that Eskom is on track to split its production and distribution activities by the end of this year.
- Editor/ additional report by Eyewitness News (EWN)
