Ramaphosa: Over 300 days without load shedding signals progress

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa has made significant progress in stabilising electricity supply, pointing to more than 300 days without load shedding since March 2024.

Delivering the State of the Nation Address on Thursday, 12 February, Ramaphosa said the measures implemented under government’s Energy Action Plan have reduced both the severity and frequency of load shedding.

While acknowledging that load shedding returned for two days last week, the President described it as a reminder that energy supply remains constrained. However, he stressed that the country remains on a positive trajectory.

“We now need to put the risk of load shedding behind us once and for all by completing the reform of our energy system to ensure long-term energy security,” he said.

Ramaphosa noted that the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, which came into effect on 1 January, marks the beginning of a new era in the energy sector. Government plans to lay the foundations this year for a competitive electricity market that will allow multiple electricity generation entities to emerge and compete over time.

He added that private sector investment will be mobilised to expand and strengthen the transmission network, enabling more renewable energy to be connected to the grid.

The President said reforming the energy system forms part of broader structural reforms aimed at accelerating economic growth and improving infrastructure performance.

He also highlighted progress under South Africa’s Just Energy Transition, with more than US$13 billion pledged by the international community and additional private capital being invested locally.

Ramaphosa reaffirmed government’s commitment to achieving carbon reduction targets at a pace and scale the country can afford, while ensuring long-term energy security and economic resilience.