The DA welcomes Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that municipalities will now be allowed to purchase electricity from independent power providers.
“This is something the DA has been asking for for years,” said Ghaleb Cachalia, DA MP and public enterprise shadow minister. “
“However, we believe that Pres. Ramaphosa’s announcements will mean nothing unless a timeframe is urgently announced that will set out exactly when we can expect action on that promise. This will not be the first time we hear empty promises from the president. Now is the time to act. ”
Cachalia said the party urged Ramaphosa to immediately abandon his government’s opposition to the City of Cape Town’s court case. The City of Cape Town wants to obtain approval for Section 34 approval within seven days.
“The City of Cape Town will then be the case study of a superbly managed municipality, where the lights stay on and the economy stays on,” he added.
“If the president is serious, then the national government will no longer oppose the City in court and issue these notices immediately.”
According to Cachalia, they are also waiting for clarity on how the president will handle alliance partners’ obstruction and opposition. The party also wants to know if the president will clearly reject Cosatu’s financing plan and when Eskom will be unbundled.
