Stabilising Eskom’s finances is a priority and the power utility will be given R23bn to do so, President Jacob Zuma announced on Thursday.
“The government will honour its commitment to give it around R23bn in the next fiscal year,” he said in his state-of-the-nation address to parliament.
He acknowledged South Africa was experiencing serious energy constraints.
“[These] are an impediment to economic growth, and are a major inconvenience to everyone in the country.”
Overcoming the problem was uppermost in government’s priorities. “We are doing everything we can to resolve the energy challenge.”
Cabinet was working “round the clock” with Eskom to stabilise the electricity supply system and contain load shedding. — Sapa