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Cape Town – A DA Member of Parliament was compared to a clown during the energy budget debate on Tuesday, after he tried to entertain the idea that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa be crowned the king of coal in light of his past association with a major Eskom coal supplier.
DA MP and deputy shadow minister of public enterprises Pieter van Dalen’s attempt to overshadow Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson’s budget speech was met with disdain by his political opponent.
“Honourable Van Dalen, I would like to invite you to my grandchild’s kindergarten party, where you can play the clown,” said Joemat-Pettersson, who was clearly anticipating the stunt.
“Leave the honourable deputy president alone and instead come to our landmark conference [Power-Gen Africa], where 6 000 delegates from around the world will attend,” she said. “But don’t come embarrass our country. We want to encourage investment.”
King of coal
Van Dalen said Eskom’s power was reliant on 85% of South Africa's coal and that Shanduka, which Ramaphosa left before taking on the role as deputy president, "produced 50% of the Junior Mining Sector producer market share".
“Isn’t it strange that … Ramaphosa is now leading the War Room on Energy,” asked Van Dalen, holding up the crown. “Today I crown … Ramaphosa, South Africa’s ‘undisputed king of coal’.”
The Presidency on Tuesday told Fin24 that it had noted Van Dalen’s comments questioning the role of Ramaphosa in leading the Eskom War Room.
Ramaphosa guided by five-point plan
“Deputy President Ramaphosa was appointed by Cabinet to lead an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to address electricity challenges facing the country,” the Presidency said in a written response.
It added that Ramaphosa’s work in the Eskom War Room was “guided by none other than Cabinet’s five-point plan”.
“The Office of the Deputy President reiterates that Deputy President Ramaphosa has divested his financial interests in the Shanduka Group following his assumption of office,” it said. “Consequently, Deputy President Ramaphosa holds no mining interests.”
DA seeks transparency
“[Ramaphosa] has made huge profits out of this country’s energy emergency and misery of the poor,” said Van Dalen. “I think it would be prudent to ask him exactly how much of the 300% increases we experienced over the last six years went to Shanduka and Glencore.
“We want the special pricing agreements for coal between Shanduka/Glencore and Eskom to be open as the price increases form a large part of the crises we face today.
“We hope [Ramaphosa] would be part of the independent inquiry into the mismanagement and failure of Eskom to supply cheap and reliable electricity,” said Van Dalen.
