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The Minister of Energy, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson and the Deputy Minister Energy, Ambassador Thembisile Majola, join President Jacob Zuma in strongly condemning the current attacks of foreign nationals in parts of the country.

The Ministry of Energy wishes to remind all South Africans that it is imperative that we stand together towards the building and development of our continent. In this respect the Department of Energy is already working with a number of countries on the continent in an effort to grow energy capacity for all Africans.

Among these potentially transformative and life changing projects is the Great Inga Hydropower Scheme located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is destined to produce electrical power for a number of countries within the SADC region including South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, Namibia and Angola in the long run.

Sasol, a major South African energy company, currently accesses gas from gas fields in neighbouring countries, which provides energy for use in South African industries and households, and sustains thousands of jobs in South Africa.

The majority of South African crude oil is imported from African counties, such as Nigeria and Angola, to mention a few.

Parallel to these specific energy interactions with African countries, our country already has long standing reciprocal relationships with a number of neighbouring countries from whom we procure electricity, and the water required to power our power stations.

These relationships between South Africa and our sister African countries has enabled us to electrify more than 6 million new households since 1994. Today government has a programme of action to reduce the backlog of connections and we are committed to ensure that all households are serviced with an electricity supply.

Minister Joemat-Pettersson says “Our common African history and bonds of fraternity and unity is what gave impetus to the liberation struggles of South Africans. We treasure this history, and call on all South Africans to embrace our brothers and sisters and, to condemn attacks on foreign nationals in all its manifestations.”

The Ministry and Department of Energy STAND AGAINST ATTACKS OF FOREIGN NATIONALS

Issued by Department of Energy