South Africa declares “state of disaster” due to power crisis

Johannesburg. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a “state of disaster” due to the power crisis in the country during his annual ‘State of the Nation’ (SOTN) address in Cape Town. The announcement comes 10 months after the “state of disaster” declared in the country was lifted due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Ramaphosa announced that a Minister of Power would be appointed to deal with the matter more effectively and immediately. He said that the new minister would look after the work of the National Energy Crisis Committee as well as look into all aspects to deal with the power crisis.

He said, “The energy crisis is an existential threat to our economy and social fabric. We should implement these measures immediately without delay. In his address on Thursday evening, he mentioned several challenges including unemployment, crime and violence besides the power supply crisis. The President also admitted in his ‘State of the Nation’ address that there was a time when he considered leaving office, but former President Nelson Mandela’s efforts inspired him to continue in office. Ramaphosa said that amid the crisis his government and his party, the African National Congress (ANC), were facing, his conscience told him to stay in office.

“My conscience always tells me to follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela because he made great sacrifices,” he said. Mandela was the first democratically elected president of South Africa. Prior to this, he had spent 27 years in prison as a political prisoner of the apartheid government. Ramaphosa concluded his address by saying, “My conscience told me to do whatever you can to make this country great…and that’s exactly what I’m doing.” Despite all the challenges we face, I call on all of us to contribute as much as we can to serve the people of South Africa.

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