The departure of Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham-Maré leaves several recently introduced departmental programmes awaiting continuity under new political leadership, including the rollout of district energy councils and implementation structures for the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM).
Graham-Maré told Energize that officials have begun a handover to incoming Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Alexandra Abrahams appointed in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle at the end of June.
Graham-Maré will return to Parliament as a full-time MP while awaiting confirmation of her next portfolio.
“I have asked Parliament not to place me on the electricity and energy portfolio committee. The members already serving on that committee are doing an excellent job and I would not want to displace them. I also do not think it would be appropriate for me to conduct oversight of a department and officials I represented for the past two years,” she said.
Graham-Maré is open to remaining involved in the energy sector. “I fell in love with the energy industry. I love the people in it, particularly. It’s just an incredible space. I’m very sad at the prospect of moving entirely away from that. If there are opportunities for me to remain involved in the energy industry, I would certainly do that but not directly as a member of that portfolio.”
Asked how the department could ensure continuity of strategic programmes during the change in leadership, Graham-Maré said the issue is particularly relevant because the Department of Electricity and Energy was only established in April last year and several initiatives developed during her tenure are still relatively new.
“When a new person takes over, their priorities are not always your priorities and there are things that they may want to drive harder.”
The district energy councils are one example. Two further pilots are still to be launched, she said. “We found officials who were very passionate about what we were trying to do and who understood our vision. I am hopeful that they will continue to drive these programmes.”
Graham-Maré also pointed to the Project Management Office (PMO) established within the Independent Power Producer (IPP) Office to support implementation of SAREM.
“SAREM had already been developed when we came into office but it had not gone through Cabinet. We pushed it through and championed it. The PMO has now been established in the IPP Office and I have been given an undertaking that SAREM will be driven with the same level of passion that we brought to it.”
She said the clean cooking initiative, energy efficiency work and planned support for municipal energy businesses are among other programmes she hopes will continue.
“We have already started the handover process with my successor and I am hopeful that many of these programmes will continue to be driven.”
