In a significant political statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa and the governing ANC have made a two-pronged pledge that targets both the nation’s most pressing crisis and one of its most enduring political pillars. The party has vowed to bring a definitive end to load shedding while simultaneously “tripling down” on its commitment to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment.
This dual promise sets the stage for the party’s future policy direction, aiming to address both the urgent need for energy stability and the long-term project of economic transformation.
The “Goodbye” to Load Shedding Promise
The most immediate and attention-grabbing part of the pledge is the commitment to end load shedding. After years of rotational blackouts that have crippled the economy and frustrated citizens, the promise of a definitive conclusion is a powerful one.
This pledge will likely be anchored in the government’s existing energy plan, which involves ramping up private power procurement, fixing Eskom’s existing fleet, and adding new generation capacity from renewable sources. The success of this promise will be the ultimate measure of the government’s ability to execute a complex logistical and engineering mission. For the public and business sector, it is a promise they have heard before, and its fulfillment will be watched with intense scrutiny.
Reinforcing the BEE Mandate
Alongside the energy pledge, the ANC has strongly reaffirmed its dedication to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment. The phrase “tripling down” signals a intention to not only continue but to intensify these policies.
This means BEE will remain a central tenet of the government’s economic framework, influencing procurement, corporate ownership, and management representation. The message to the business community is clear: the agenda for redressing historical economic inequalities is non-negotiable and will be pursued with renewed vigor. This is likely to shape the regulatory environment for years to come.
A Strategic Balancing Act
By linking these two issues, the ANC is presenting a vision that couples solving a crippling infrastructure failure with advancing its core ideological mission. The strategy is to demonstrate actionable plans for immediate relief (energy) while reassuring its base of an unwavering commitment to structural change (economic transformation).
The political calculation is that the public’s desire for electricity stability is so great that it will create a platform of goodwill from which to advance more complex and sometimes contentious transformation policies. The success of this dual pledge hinges entirely on delivering the first partending load shedding. If the lights stay on, the government gains the political capital to pursue its broader economic goals. If not, both promises risk being undermined.
