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This article has been updated to include more detail from the meeting.
Cape Town - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently in a meeting with business leaders and his energy advisory panel to discuss interventions to turn Eskom around.
Ramaphosa was hosting a meeting at the Union Building in Pretoria two days after announcing his panel of energy experts in Parliament.
Members of Business Leadership SA were meeting Ramaphosa to make proposals regarding the energy crisis in South Africa, said Ramaphosa. "We will benefit a great deal from the discussion with Business Leadership SA. They have a number of ideas and proposals," he told reporters before the meeting.
The organisation had requested the meeting with him and his Eskom energy advisory panel, which comprises of Professor Anthon Eberhard, Dolly Mokgatle, Sy Gourah, Smunda Mokoena, Derick Elbrecht and former Eskom chairperson Bobby Godsell.
"They're advising me as deputy president who is leading the effort in the war room," he said.
War room daily manager Shaun Phillips was also present.
Others attending included Deputy Energy Minister Thembi Majola, Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, and Deputy Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Andries Nel.
Ramaphosa said they were planning to hold a "very thorough conversation" throughout the day.
"The deputy president believes that there is no short-cut to the challenges facing Eskom," the Presidency said in a statement. "Accordingly, there is a need to develop short, medium and long-term solutions that are independently verifiable by people with expert knowledge in the energy sector."
"In pursuance of this objective it is critical that all sectors of our society are mobilised behind the government programme to deal with challenges of electricity while creating a platform for all sectors including business to make a meaningful contribution in helping the country move out of the current electricity challenges."
On Thursday, Standard & Poor's (S&P) downgraded Eskom's long-term credit rating to BB+ following the suspension of four of its senior officials.
READ: S&P downgrades Eskom to junk after suspension of CEO and three executives
Last week, Eskom chief executive Tshediso Matona, finance director Tsholofelo Molefe, group capital executive Dan Morokane, and commercial and technology executive Matshela Koko were asked to step aside as the power utility embarked on a fact-finding inquiry.
READ: Eskom suspends CEO ahead of inquiry into utility
In recent months Eskom has battled to keep the lights on due to the collapse of one of its coal storage silos, diesel shortages, and maintenance issues.
This meeting comes as Eskom seeks a 9.58% price adjustment for electricity in addition to the already announced 12.69% imposed in the 2015-16 financial year.
READ: Eskom's tariff hike shocker
Ramaphosa told Parliament on Wednesday that “retrenchments of a voluntary nature must now stop. We need all our skilled people in Eskom."
READ: Eskom must stop retrenching skilled staff - Ramaphosa
RT @NickolausBauer: #Eskom Cyril Ramaphosa begins the briefing with energy advisory panel. Doesn’t offer much comment pic.twitter.com/JsRyhXSWuS
— eNCA (@eNCAnews) March 20, 2015@eNCAnews I hope Min Ramaphosa concentrates on (1) collection of power arrears R-billions and (2) illegal connections which are ignored.
— René (@runawayrene) March 20, 2015
