Ramaphosa’s cabinet not affected by load shedding – DA unearths hidden shenanigans

Democratic Alliance (DA) fumes over government’s derogatory posture to apply power cuts for the nation, while cabinet ministers, deputies and the President are exempted from load shedding.

The official opposition party has rubbished recent report released by the Department of Public Works ( DPWI) that, it is responsible for carrying maintenance of Bryntirion Estate without giving clear indication about its role on how it is executing maintenance for executive households in these difficult times of power cuts.

Without denying or agreeing that the entire cabinet is affected by the load-shedding, the department decided to be mum on recent claims made by the DA regarding the scandalous ‘Bryntirion State VIP’ situated in Pretoria, Gauteng a vast compound where cabinet ministers are located.

“As much as we are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of Bryntirion Estate and other properties that house members of the executive, however, with current load shedding ministerial houses experience the effects of load shedding like everybody else in the neighbourhood, as per the municipality’s load-shedding schedule, we are not responsible for determining load shedding, Eskom and municipalities are,” said the DWI.

According to the findings by the far-left party, it is alleged that Bryntirion State VIP, which incorporates Mahlamba Ndlopfu – official residence of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Sefako Makgatho presidential guest house, the vice president’s official residence and homes of Cabinet ministers – are all exempt from the recurring load shedding.

“We have discovered that the Bryntirion Estate, a small suburb in Pretoria where the official residences of Ramaphosa’s Cabinet are located, was exempt from load shedding while hospitals were not,” said the DA’s member of Parliament Ghaleb Cachalia.

The DA said the executive’s Bryntirion Estate should be placed on load-shedding schedules like other townships.

DA further slammed the ANC-led government for pampering themselves with the lights on while hospitals are required by law to have the lights on are also affected by the power cuts.

“Hospitals should be designated as exempt from load shedding as a matter of urgency and the pampered Cabinet’s Bryntirion Estate should be placed on load-shedding schedules, just like everyone else,” said the DA.