Gwede Mantashe - The African Mirror

May

2023

South African president transfers some power procurement functions to new minister

SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa transferred some key power procurement functions to his electricity minister, taking them away from the energy minister who has been criticised for acting too slowly over the worst blackouts the country has experienced. Ramaphosa appointed Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to the newly created post of electricity minister in March to try to find a solution to the crippling outages. But the new minister's powers were not clearly delineated. Analysts say that even now that Ramokgopa has been given some of Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe's responsibilities, he will still be beholden to Mantashe to implement them. According…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Yellen welcomes South Africa’s energy transition, steers clear of Russia mention

NEWS

ANDREA SHALAL and KOPANO GUMBI U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen lauded South Africa's "bold" participation in an energy transition partnership backed by the United States and other Western nations but steered clear of mentioning U.S. concerns about Pretoria's planned military drills with China and Russia. She welcomed Godongwana's "cooperation and insightful views" in their previous discussions and said she would raise several issues, including Zambia's stalled sovereign debt restructuring effort, given South Africa's key role on the country's creditor committee. "The United States strongly values our relationship with South Africa," Yellen said in remarks that included no mention of Russia…

Mar

2022

By The African Mirror

S.A’s Zuma, Mantashe to face for criminal investigations

NEWS

A South African corruption inquiry said it had referred former president Jacob Zuma and current mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe for investigation by law enforcement with a view to establishing potential graft charges. The inquiry was established in 2018 to examine allegations of high-level graft during Zuma's nine years in power from 2009 and is publishing its findings after more than three years of investigations. Its latest report focuses on corruption and fraud related to privately-owned services company Bosasa, now in voluntary liquidation after banks closed its accounts amid graft allegations. "The evidence revealed that corruption was Bosasa's way of…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

Peacemaker Maphatsoe laid to rest

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER AMID the echoes of intermittent machine gun fire, family, friends and comrades of the late ANC MP Kebby Maphatsoe paid tribute to him at a funeral service held in Protea Glen, Soweto. Gwede Mantashe, the ANC national chairman and Minister of Minerals and Energy described Maphatsoe as a capable leader. “He understood that when you have different views you are not enemies and have a responsibility to discuss your disagreement,” he said. Mantashe also said Maphatsoe, who was involved in efforts to unite veterans of the ANC former armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), was a peacemaker.…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

6th South African cabinet minister gets COVID-19

COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER A sixth member of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet has contracted COVID-19. Ebrahim Patel, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition has gone into self-quarantine and will work from home, the South African presidency has announced. In a statement, the presidency said Patel, who took part in a virtual parliamentary budget vote a day before he got his results, was ok. “Minister Patel is in good spirits and is in self-quarantine, and will continue to work from home. Those that have been in contact with the minister are also in self-isolation and have been encouraged to…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

I’m doing well, says COVID-19 positive cabinet minister

COVID-19

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH African Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe says he is doing well in hospital, where he is being treated for COVID-19. Mantashe sent a message on Twitter, saying he was recuperating well at a public hospital. "I have been admitted to a public hospital for medical attention and monitoring. I am doing well. Thanks to the health care workers. Thanks to your messages of support for my family and all persons who have been infected and affected by this virus," Mantashe said. Thembelani "Thulas" Nxesi, South Africa's Minister of Employment and Labour, is the…