Parliament, Monday, 23 October 2023 – The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources will this coming week hold public hearings on the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill (B23-2023) in the Northern Cape. The hearings form part of a nationwide process to receive comments from the public in line with Chapter 59 (1) of South Africa’s Constitution, which compels the National Assembly to facilitate public involvement in the legislative process.
Furthermore, the legislative sector adopted a Public Participation Model that places public consultation at the centre of how it does its business. Following several Constitutional court judgements highlighting deficiencies with public participation in the law-making process, Parliament and the legislative sector in general have committed to enhancing this important pillar in the legislation-making process and this process is a direct response in ensuring enhanced public participation.
The Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill aims to effect amendments to the Electricity Regulation Act of 2006, to improve the administration of the Act; to provide for additional electricity, new generation capacity and electricity infrastructure; to provide for the establishment, duties, powers, and functions of the Transmission System Operator SOC Ltd.
It will also provide for an open market platform that will allow for competitive electricity trading; and to assign the duties, powers, and functions of the Transmission System Operator SOC Ltd to the National Transmission Company South Africa SOC Ltd.
The Northern Cape is the fourth province the committee is visiting following the successful conclusion of similar public consultation processes in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West provinces.
During the North West Hearings the Bill was roundly welcomed because, according to participants, reforms within the electricity sector were long overdue and it will open the market and allow for a competitive electricity trading environment. This was important to enable the country to deal with the current electricity crisis it faces which stifles economic growth. Other participants cautioned that the Bill must not lead to the privatisation of Eskom, and they informed the committee that in the past the privatisation of state entities had resulted in job losses.
Furthermore, in supporting the Bill, the residents told the committee that the proposed amendments would augment electricity generation capacity and ensure the country’s security of energy supply. They also argued that Eskom must compete with other companies in the electricity generation sector. They blamed Eskom for failing to invest in research and plan for growing population.
“Public participation is an important pillar in a democratic dispensation and the residents of the Northern Cape are encouraged to come and contribute on the bill. The committee also decided to visit four districts in the province to ensure reasonable access for residents in provinces to make their inputs. The committee is ready to listen to all views,” said Mr Sahlulele Luzipo, the Chairperson of the committee.
The details of the Northern Cape Hearings as follows:
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DISTRICT |
LOCAL |
VENUE |
DATE |
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Z F Mgcawu |
Dawid Kruiper |
Piet Thole Community Hall |
24 October 2023 |
|
Pixley Ka Seme |
Emthanjeni |
|
25 October 2023 |
|
John Taolo Galestwewe |
Gasegonyana |
Wrenchiville in Kuruman. |
26 October 2023 |
|
Frances Baard |
Sol Plaatjie |
Kimberley City Hall |
27 October 2023 |
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINERALS AND ENERGY MR SAHLULELE LUZIPO
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committees’ Media Officer:
Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
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