South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his 2024 State of the Nation Address in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, Feb. 8, 2024. Ramaphosa said on Thursday that an end to frequent load shedding -- a local term for power cuts -- in the country is "finally within reach."
In addition to ending load shedding, Ramaphosa noted, the ongoing reforms and efforts will also enable South Africa to improve its logistics system, to achieve water security and ultimately to create jobs. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)
CAPE TOWN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that an end to frequent load shedding -- a local term for power cuts -- in the country is "finally within reach."
Ramaphosa made the remarks while delivering his 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa.
With all the reforms and efforts by the government, "we are confident that the worst is behind us and the end of load shedding is finally within reach," he said in the key speech ahead of elections this year.
"But we are not stopping there," said the president, who declared a national state of disaster in his SONA last year to respond to the country's electricity crisis.
"To ensure that we never face a similar crisis ever again, we are reforming our energy system to make it more competitive, sustainable and reliable into the future," said Ramaphosa.
According to him, some 14,000 kilometers of new transmission lines are to be built in South Africa to connect renewable energy projects.
"To fast-track this process, we will enable private investment in transmission infrastructure through a variety of innovative investment models," he said.
In addition to ending load shedding, Ramaphosa noted, the ongoing reforms and efforts will also enable South Africa to improve its logistics system, to achieve water security and ultimately to create jobs.
"While our challenges have never been greater, our response to these challenges will lead us to greater prosperity than we have ever known," he added. ■
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his 2024 State of the Nation Address in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, Feb. 8, 2024. Ramaphosa said on Thursday that an end to frequent load shedding -- a local term for power cuts -- in the country is "finally within reach."
In addition to ending load shedding, Ramaphosa noted, the ongoing reforms and efforts will also enable South Africa to improve its logistics system, to achieve water security and ultimately to create jobs. (Photo by Xabiso Mkhabela/Xinhua)