The Department’s State Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan is accusing the Democratic Alliance (DA) of towing a “political line” over the power crisis in an attempt to make an unscheduled visit to the Kusile Power Station on Wednesday.
It comes after DA leader John Steenhuizen said he was frustrated with the government after he was denied access to Eskom’s Kusile power station in Mpumalanga.
However, according to the department, after being informed that Steenhuisen was on his way to the power station for an unscheduled visit, Gordhan called him as a courtesy to facilitate a constructive interaction.
“I explained to him that Eskom senior management is busy with important board business today. I am ready to inform him,” explained Gordhan.
The minister, according to the department, then suggested that such a visit could be organized with full briefing and compliance with the necessary protocols.
“DA Members of Parliament on various portfolio committees and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) have visited Kusile and Eskom facilities on several occasions and are fully aware of the security measures and protocols that must be followed before visiting key national sites. .”
The department has since rejected claims that the minister blocked Steenhuizen’s visit to the power station and that the claims were “misleading and untrue”.
Meanwhile, according to the department, normal parliamentary processes require a request to be sent to the Minister of Public Enterprises to notify Eskom in time to take the necessary measures and ensure the safety of all people.
According to the department, the DA did not use normal procedures to request a visit to the Kusile power station in accordance with the National Key Points Act and parliamentary protocols.
“It’s quite clear that this is a performance by the DA that has nothing to do with the energy crisis the country is facing and they have no solutions to the energy crisis other than criticism,” Gordhan said.
“We have previously discussed with the DA indicating that the issue of the electricity crisis should be treated as a national issue and should not be used as a partisan political football in any shape or form,” the minister added. – SAnews.gov.za
