Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has told Parliament that the unbundling of Eskom will not lead to a return of load-shedding
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Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has told Parliament that the unbundling of Eskom is designed to strengthen the power system and reduce the risk of a return to load-shedding
Ramokgopa said this in a parliamentary reply after Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Nazier Paulsen asked what measures his department has put in place to ensure that the restructuring of the power utility does not worsen electricity supply, especially given concerns about slow transmission infrastructure expansion.
"The unbundling of Eskom is a central pillar of the Department of Electricity and Energy's reform programme, and it is being implemented in a manner that strengthens, rather than undermines, system reliability and energy security. Firstly, the improvement in generation performance remains the primary safeguard against load shedding," Ramokgopa said.
The Minister added that the establishment of the National Transmission Company of South Africa in 2024 is intended to fix long-standing delays in building transmission infrastructure, and speed up grid expansion.
He said the new entity will be responsible for planning and delivering new transmission lines, supported by the national grid development plan and increased oversight.
Ramokgopa also said better coordination between generation and transmission planning, along with reforms supported by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, will help prevent bottlenecks that could threaten electricity supply during the restructuring process.
"Finally, the Department continues to work closely with Eskom, NERSA, and the National Treasury to ensure that the financial sustainability of the restructured entities supports ongoing maintenance, infrastructure investment, and system reliability," Ramokgopa said
"This includes reforms to enable cost reflective tariffs, targeted fiscal support, and improved revenue collection, particularly within the distribution segment. Taken together, these measures are designed to ensure that the restructuring of Eskom strengthens the electricity system, accelerates infrastructure delivery, and reduces the risk of a return to load shedding, rather than exacerbating it".
IOL previously reported that the Presidency has granted an extension to the Eskom Restructuring Task Team, pushing out its deadline to finalise a report on the creation of South Africa’s independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) to the end of June 2026.
The team was originally due to submit its high-level proposal by the end of May. The team was created in March 2026 following an announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
"While the task team was expected to present a high-level report by the end of May 2026, the President has extended this deadline to the end of June 2026, in order to ensure that the proposed approach can be fully detailed and considered through the relevant governance structures," Ramaphosa said.
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