Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has assured South Africans that the chance of loadshedding during the 21-day national lockdown is highly unlikely.
Mantashe said his department has made it a point to prioritise citizens during the lockdown – which is meant to stop the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus – and this will be possible because most businesses will not be fully operational.
Mantashe said the supply of fuel to the relevant critical and essential services, as well as the supply of coal to Eskom for electricity supply and liquid fuels production were critical during this period. “Production of gold, chrome manganese will be scaled down, while the processing of surface material in the PGM’s sector will continue with the production of, among others, medical products,” he said.
South Africa only recorded its first case of the deadly virus approximately two weeks ago; however the number is now more than 700. Health workers in the public and private sectors, emergency personnel, those in security services – such as the police, traffic officers, military medical personnel, soldiers – will be exempt from the lockdown.
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