Power Struggle Over Energy Crisis Response To Dominate ANC NEC's Agenda This Weekend

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) will convene over the weekend and South Africa's energy crisis is expected to top the agenda amid the perception that Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa lacks the powers to address the current situation.

• Ramokgopa yesterday noted that the outlook for electricity supply "looks really bleak because demand is going to increase exponentially" into the winter season, while the EWN reported that the projections he put forward before the Cabinet implied that in a worst-case scenario South Africa could experience Stage 8 load-shedding for much of the winter season.
• The recently appointed Electricity Minister is under severe time pressure as the country is entering the winter season, but there is broad consensus that he lacks the legal prerogatives to address the crisis. The task of empowering the Electricity Minister is frustrated by Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan.
• Ramokgopa will try to lobby NEC members to greenlight stripping party heavyweights Mantashe and Gordhan of some of their powers in order to give the Electricity Ministry the tools tools to address the deepening power crisis. The EWC reported that Mantashe "has rallied his troops" to counter these efforts.
• The ruling party's top decision-making body is also expected to discuss strategy for the 2024 general elections. The Daily Maverick reported that the ANC's head of political education will present a draft paper on which direction the party should take in the election, which may involve exploring coalition options.