The Citizen writes that a popular refrain heard in recent weeks when discussing the attributes needed by the head of the country’s newly-created electricity ministry is that“you don’t need a brain surgeon to run a hospital.”

While Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho ‘Sputla’ Ramokgopa might possess revered qualifications, which include a PhD, the new portfolio may actually have benefitted from the skills of a senior engineer experienced in high voltage power, say governance experts. Ramokgopa was head of infrastructure projects before President Cyril Ramaphosa moved him to the new position created to fight the country’s power crisis. Analyst Sandile Swana said the new ministry did not need another general public servant at the helm. “The position needed an energy specialist, even a senior engineer who has worked successfully with high voltage power systems. We do not need a highly qualified person in arbitrary disciplines not connected to running successful power utilities,” he opined. Ramokgopa also holds a BSc in Civil Engineering (University of Durban-Westville) and two master’s degrees in public administration, along with one in business leadership from the University of Pretoria (UP) and Unisa respectively. He also has a Certificate in Executive Development from Stellenbosch University and a PhD in Public Affairs from UP. North West University (NWU) public governance Professor Tshombe Lukamba said although Ramokgopa was highly qualified, experience in power generation would have been a good boost for him. “Let’s see how he fares, but that job needed an electrical engineer with experience in electricity generation and supply,” Lukamba claimed.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Getrude Makhafola at The Citizen (subscriber access only)
• Read too, Mantashe says he’s keen to work with the new minister of electricity, at Mail & Guardian (subscriber access only)

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