Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has sparked mixed reactions from the public following his apology for the return of load shedding, which Eskom implemented for the first time in almost a year.
This apology came after Eskom unexpectedly escalated the load shedding to Stage 6 early on Sunday, just hours after announcing Stage 3.
This marked the second occurrence of load shedding in less than a month, with Eskom attributing the power cuts to multiple unit trips.
Earlier in the week, the utility had reduced the load shedding level following a period of recovery.
Minister Ramokgopa Issues Apology Amid Eskom’s Load Shedding Crisis
On Wednesday, after Eskom suspended load shedding, Minister Ramokgopa took to social media to issue an apology to South Africans for the disruption caused by the recent power cuts.
In his message posted on X (formerly Twitter), he said:
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my most sincere apology for the gross inconvenience and disruption inflicted on households, businesses, and industry as a result of load shedding experienced over the past 3 days,” he shared.
Ramokgopa also emphasized that “load shedding of any intensity should never be normalized in our country” and expressed gratitude towards Eskom’s team for their efforts in bringing the generating units back online swiftly.
He reassured the public that the government is working hard to permanently eliminate load shedding, though he acknowledged there may be temporary setbacks along the way.
Public Opinion Divided on the Apology
The apology, however, didn’t sit well with everyone.
Social media users had varied opinions about Ramokgopa’s message. Some were appreciative, while others remained skeptical.
One user, @GodPenuel, expressed gratitude, saying: “Thank you for your apology, Sputla. It really means a lot to some of us.
I hope your colleagues can learn from your example and also apologize when they fall short in their job specs.
Good luck to yourself & the Eskom team. Keep letting us know how we can help.”
Former 5FM radio host Gareth Cliff also praised the minister for taking accountability. He tweeted: “Thanks Minister.
Great to see not only accountability, but good manners we don’t usually get from government.
This stuff matters. We all want the country to succeed.”
Skepticism and Criticism on Social Media
On the other hand, some users were less convinced by the apology.
A tweet from @JerezFynn claimed that load shedding is part of a “well-planned and orchestrated business model,” casting doubt on the government’s efforts to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, @Mkha_Lu2li expressed a more cynical view, stating, “Don’t apologize because load shedding will be back again,” reflecting the skepticism that load shedding will continue despite the apology.
Ramokgopa’s Promises for the Future
Despite the mixed reactions, Ramokgopa assured the public that comprehensive measures would soon be announced to address load shedding and reduce electricity shortages.
The government has been working on long-term solutions to resolve the energy crisis, though many South Africans are still waiting to see if these promises will lead to lasting change.