The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr Gwede Mantashe, has proven that he is not the right minister to help South Africa weather the current energy crisis. So, his statement in the Mail & Guardian that Mr André de Ruyter is not the right person to fix Eskom would have been funny if the matter was not so serious.
Mantashe's statement comes amid increasing pressure on all role players to solve South Africa's energy crisis before it turns into a national disaster.
He compared De Ruyter to Eskom's chief operating officer, Jan Oberholzer, who, in Mantashe's view, seems to know exactly what is going on and what needs to be done to turn matters around.
According to Mantashe, someone like De Ruyter will be able to play a more effective role once the turn-around phase is over. He also lamented the fact that the Eskom board does not include an accountant or an engineer.
Mantashe has been serving as the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy since 2019. His appointment was accompanied by optimism and the hope that he would take the urgent steps needed to overcome the looming crisis. That hope has since disappointed.
The process to get renewable power projects approved and online is notorious for its bureaucratic red tape.
It is also no secret that Mantashe did not support President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of the decision that independent power projects up to 100 MW may be constructed without permission. And meanwhile, rumours that the registration of such projects is being administratively delayed keep circulating.
Mantashe's solution to the power crisis revolves around coal and natural gas. He repeatedly reiterated his personal commitment to using coal, while his department keeps up its attempts to prospect for crude oil and natural gas along the South African coast.
Hydrofracking for natural gas in the Karoo is on the table once again after a ruling by the court set aside the previous regulations.
This area, which is sometimes classified as half-desert, has been utilised sustainably for millennia. The fear is that hydrofracking could pollute and/or deplete its scarce water sources.
On 15 July, a pre-colloquium, or preliminary discussion, was held about the sustainable and responsible exploitation of the country's oil and gas resources. It was a joint event hosted by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and the Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries.
What was remarkable was that spokespersons from the Department of Energy emphasised the potential extent of the resources, while the spokespersons of Environmental Affairs questioned the utilisation thereof.
According to the Environmental Affairs spokespersons, the South African auto-industry is closely integrated with the rest of the world and the days of internal combustion engines are numbered, so they will not survive here any longer than at trade partners.
At times, the debate became heated with certain participants insisting that Africa cannot be compelled to stop all pollution-causing practices after Western countries built their wealth by using those same practices.
Others wanted to know why Africa would choose to cause pollution if it is not necessary.
What was abundantly clear was that the department under Mantashe's lead sought solutions in nostalgic illusions of large government corporations and government-sponsored pollution.
In addition, Ramaphosa came up with the idea of a "second Eskom" (this time, under Mantashe's Department) earlier this week – as if that Minister and that department are known for getting things done!
Mantashe has already shirked all responsibility with regard to the power crisis because Eskom falls under the Department of Public Enterprises, and not his department.
It is indeed time for Minister Mantashe to resign of his own accord, instead of making remarks about institutions that fall outside of his department.
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