kevin mileham

Dear MyPE The decision of the National Energy Regulator (NERSA) to award Eskom a 15% increase on its bulk tariffs is a slap in the face of the people of South Africa, especially in light of the Covid pandemic and its impact on peoples’ ability to earn a living or pay their bills. It is a fact (proven in several recent court cases) that NERSA has demonstrated its incompetence in determining electricity tariffs that are accurate and cost reflective – and much more must be done to ensure that … [Read more...] about NERSA’s ineptitude contributing to escalating cost of electricity tariffs

An open letter to David Mabuza Dear Deputy President Mabuza: We’ve been down this road before... The announcement that the country would again be plunged into stage 2 loadshedding last night comes as no surprise. If anything, the surprise is that Eskom managed to last as long as it did without resorting to rolling blackouts. Just a year ago, South Africa was left in the dark for days, as Eskom implemented Stage 6 loadshedding. At the time, President Ramaphosa promised unprecedented … [Read more...] about The Eskom crisis can be solved

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the commitment from Deputy President, David Mabuza, that he will discuss our proposal of a R75 000 tax rebate for households wishing to install a rooftop solar system with the Ministers of Finance, Public Enterprises and Mineral Resources and Energy, and apply his mind to seriously implementing this. He made this commitment during the parliamentary question session on Thursday. The DA first made this proposal as part of our contribution to … [Read more...] about Deputy President’s commitment to discuss R75k solar tax rebate proposal

You're all talk and no action on energy security Dear Minister Mantashe, As we enter the second day of stage 4 loadshedding, Eskom has just announced that we can expect loadshedding until 2022. But we have heard this story before. We heard them say that loadshedding would be resolved in weeks in 2007. We heard it again from then Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa in September 2015: “In another 18 months to two years, you will forget the challenges that we had with relation to power and … [Read more...] about Open Letter to Minister Mantashe

Dear MyPE On the same day Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy rejected the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) sound and practical solutions to address the electricity crisis, presented in our Independent Electricity Management Operator (IEMO) Bill, Eskom has leapt to stage 4 rolling blackouts. These developments reflect the continued inability of Eskom to meet the needs of South Africa’s energy supply. But the ANC government would much rather continue to drag the … [Read more...] about While the ANC and EFF pander outdated ideologies, Eskom plunges the country into stage 4 darkness

Dear MyPE With South Africa having returned to stage 2 load shedding this morning, and some 11 000 MW of Eskom generation capacity out of operation, the question has to be asked: What is the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, doing to secure South Africa’s electricity supply? The answer, sadly, is precious little. In December 2019, when load shedding peaked at stage 6, the President and Minister Mantashe committed to an Emergency Power Procurement programme to add 2 … [Read more...] about What is Minister Mantashe doing to secure SA’s electricity supply?

DA reiterates call for A-G to annually audit all NERSA pricing and regulatory account determinations Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has noted the High Court ruling in favour of Eskom against the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), allowing the power utility to hike electricity tariffs by more than 10%. While the DA respects the Court’s decision, it is unfortunate that these tariff hikes come at a time when our country is in a middle of an economic meltdown that … [Read more...] about Eskom tariff hikes

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Auditor General of South Africa to audit the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) pricing and regulatory account determinations on an annual basis. Nersa has reportedly withdrawn oppositions in two court cases against Eskom and conceded to having made mistakes in calculating tariffs for the parastatal, costing Eskom billions in revenue. In a third court case, fault against Nersa has already been determined, and the fourth … [Read more...] about South Africans to pay the price for Nersa’s “mistakes”

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) remains extremely concerned at the lack of response from the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, his Department and Parliament, regarding the ongoing diesel shortages being experienced around South Africa. Gauteng is amongst the worst hit, with numerous wholesalers and retailers reportedly "dry", and others experiencing difficulty in obtaining resupply. Although production has ramped up at the refineries and product imports … [Read more...] about Mantashe remains mum as diesel shortage worsens

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken note of Cabinet’s decision to merge PetroSA, the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) and iGas into one National Petroleum Company. While there may be certain benefits in such a merger, this decision could create a potentially unfair competitive advantage for the new entity, despite the highly competitive nature of the petroleum sector. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy also needs to answer the following questions regarding this … [Read more...] about Calls for full transparency on new SOE, the National Petroleum Company

Minister Mantashe is delaying IPPs Dear MyPE Minister Gwede Mantashe is delaying mines and municipalities the power to self-generate and procure electricity from independent power producers (IPPs) despite the very evident electricity crisis the country faces. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has reportedly indicated that the notice for public participation on section 34 ministerial determinations will only commence in a month’s time. And that the “concurrence” … [Read more...] about Self Generation Pipe Dream

Dear MyPE While the Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcements in his State of the Nation (SONA) address last night regarding the energy sector, it is worrying that Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe does not seem to be on board. Shortly after Ramaphosa announced during SONA that Independent Power Producers will be able to sell electricity to financially viable municipalities, Mantashe contradicted him in media interviews afterward by … [Read more...] about Mantashe is spanner in the works of President’s energy promises

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today written to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), requesting that she immediately dissolve the Makana municipal council, as ordered by the Grahamstown High Court. Please find the letter and judgement attached. The DA’s position is that, in terms of s139(7) of the Constitution of South Africa, the national executive is obligated to act, when the provincial executive does not do … [Read more...] about Calls on national government to intervene in Makana Municipality

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) unequivocally rejects statements attributed to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, that the ANC Government is looking to set up an alternative electricity generation entity. This is utter madness. Instead of making the South African electricity supply sector more competitive, Government is seeking to extend its monopoly over electricity generation. South Africa doesn’t need another state-controlled entity for electricity … [Read more...] about Government’s proposed new electricity generation SOE a mad idea