SCOPA chair likeness Sputla to Jay Naidoo

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The newly appointed Minister of Electricity, Sputla Ramogopa has come under fire from the chairperson of SCOPA, Nkululeko Hhlengwa.

Hlengwa raised his concerns that the appointment of Ramogopa is a duplication of functions and has no authority over Eskom.

“The minister of Public Enterprise remains a shareholder representative on behalf of the government as far as a large number of SOEs specifically Eskom.

Some few months later you are a minister of Eskom who does not have any authority on Eskom matters.’

Hlengwa went on to explain what Ramogopa said.

“A few weeks ago Ramogopa was categorically clear that he finds himself between a rock and a hard place and that rock and hard place being Minister Gordhan and Minister Mantashe.

Then the question is what is he (Ramogopa) responsible for.”

Should Ramaphosa have appointed Ramogopa?

Hlengwa disagrees.

“I maintain the position that the president should not have appointed minister of electricity, particularly given the fact that he does not have the authority and functions of material effect as, in the area of the portfolio appointed for, the president owes the nation an explanation on the appointment that he made.

Parliament has not established a portfolio committee for the minister who does not have a department as there is a heightened overlap in who does what.

The complicating factor is National Energy Crises Committee is not headed by the Minister of Electricity but by a DG and this reminds me of the days of Jay Naidoo, Minister without portfolio.”

To this day, Ramogopa can only do press conferences but can’t even visit power stations without Godhan knowing.

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