Parliament to meet over power
2008-01-29 14:58
Cape Town - A special joint sitting of Parliament will be held on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the electricity crisis, the officer of the Speaker said on Tuesday.
Minister of Minerals and Energy Bujelwa Sonjica and Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin were expected to attend, said spokesperson Luzuko Jacobs.
The Democratic Alliance and the Freedom Front Plus both welcomed the Speaker's decision.
FF Plus spokesperson on minerals and energy Willie Spies hoped it would be more than a "war of words".
"Given the amount of energy that will be wasted to fly 490 MPs to Cape Town for this special sitting, we really hope that this plenary session will bring some answers."
The DA said it would use the opportunity to discuss who should be held accountable for the crisis, the "culpability of senior Eskom management" - and what action should be taken against them.
It would also examine the effects the power crisis had had on businesses and contingency plans for the 2010 World Cup.
- SAPA