New Energy Minister to meet with SOEs

Pretoria – New Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi is planning to meet with State-owned entities (SOEs) that fall within the energy portfolio.

At a meet-and-greet session at the department on Wednesday, Minister Kubayi, who was sworn into office last Friday, said due to the fact that the energy mandate is largely delivered through the work of the sector, she would prioritise meeting with them.

She assured officials of her commitment to deliver on the energy mandate in partnership with all role players.

She said she would avail herself to receive full and frank briefings of the Department of Energy’s programmes, achievements as well as challenges.

The Minister urged all officials to deliver in line with their responsibilities and to work as a team to build a strong unit that will contribute to the country’s growth.

“As a country, South Africa has overcome a lot of obstacles and challenges, and will continue to overcome any other challenges coming our way. Government has not changed but the Ministers have changed. The change should not bring fear to any Team Energy member because there will be synergy and swift transition in the Department of Energy,” she said.

At the session yesterday, Energy Deputy Minister Thembisile Majola shared her positive experiences of working at the department since 2014, while Director-General Thabane Zulu assured Minister Kubayi that the team she heads is hard working.

Zulu assured Minister Kubayi that the department will continue to work towards entrenching the implementation of the energy mix, which promotes harnessing all energy sources.

Minister Kubayi will visit staff at the department’s regional offices.

Among her many accomplishments, Minister Kubayi was a parliamentary counsellor to former President Kgalema Motlanthe while he served as the Deputy President.

The Minister was also the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Telecommunications and Postal Services.

Minister Kubayi is a graduate of Vista University, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public and Development Management from the University of the Witwatersrand.