Since 2019, the Department of Public Works has been sourcing and installing alternative electrical systems at the houses of ministers and their deputies, at a cost of R7.04 million to South Africa.
According to the Sunday Times, this has primarily occurred in affluent Pretoria suburbs, with the installation of generators, solar systems, and inverters.
After queries from DA MP Leon Schreiber, newly-appointed Public Works Minister Sihle Zikalala revealed this information and stated that South Africans had every reason to be outraged.
“Yes, it’s a point. It’s a valid one. It needs to be considered; we should all ensure that we save all resources,” said Zikalala.
“It’s a cry that should be noted, especially in the current situation; it’s a cry that we should not downplay.”
Zikalala went on to say that the public works department will provide a new government statement on the problem in the coming days.
Furthermore, Eskom’s new minister of power, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, has a history of extravagant spending at state houses.
His mayoral home in Tshwane was renovated for R12 million during his tenure as mayor from 2010 to 2016.
Former Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga claims that the R12 million was wasted on shady renovations, and despite the lavish makeover, the home was sold in November 2017 for just R5.1 million.
Skeletons of The Minister of Electricity
Ramokgopa was previously mired in controversy as a result of a contentious multi-billion rand procurement issued to a business named PEU Capital Partners.
PEU was appointed as an advisor at first, but quickly became a service company contracted to install smart metres in Tshwane.
Due to irregularities in the transaction, it was legally challenged and eventually overturned by the North Gauteng High Court.
According to Sakeliga, R630 million was still paid to PEU for services delivered, and this debt has yet to be resolved.
According to Sakeliga, Ramokgopa initially pushed forward with the PEU pact despite warnings from opposing parties and his own party’s leaders.
“Ramokgopa left office as mayor amid an additional R2-billion debt burden on the municipality due to an illegal agreement for the installation and maintenance of electricity meters that he had signed off on,” Sakeliga said.
