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Trailblazer - Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa
Powering South Africa's Renewable Energy Future
By Jessie Taylor
South Africa’s journey toward energy security and a green economy has found a determined champion in Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the country’s first full-time Minister of Electricity and Energy. With deep roots in public service and a professional foundation in civil engineering, Dr Ramokgopa brings both technical credibility and political foresight to one of the country’s most critical portfolios. Now leading a wave of renewable energy programmes and privatesector-driven grid expansion, he spearheads the transition to a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive energy future for South Africa.
A Career In Public Leadership
Dr Ramokgopa’s public service career began in 2000 when he was elected as an ANC ward councillor in Tshwane. From there, he rose through the ranks with appointments as CEO of the Johannesburg Market and the Metropolitan Trading Company. These early executive roles gave him experience managing complex entities and aligning service delivery with developmental priorities.
In 2010, he was elected Executive Mayor of Tshwane, becoming one of the youngest people to lead a metropolitan municipality in the country. During his tenure, he focused heavily on infrastructure development and urban planning, championing initiatives such as bus rapid transit and the rollout of smart prepaid meters - although some projects, like the electricity meters, drew public scrutiny.
By 2019, he had assumed the role of Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment, sharpening his expertise in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. He then moved to the national stage as Head of the Investment and Infrastructure Office in the Presidency, a strategic post where he coordinated national infrastructure investment and public-private partnerships.
This combination of local, provincial, and national leadership uniquely equipped Dr Ramokgopa for his current role—leading South Africa’s response to its energy crisis and climate commitments.
In March 2023, amid a national load-shedding crisis and mounting pressure to modernise the energy sector, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Dr Ramokgopa as Minister in the Presidency for Electricity. This role was later formalised and expanded in July 2024 into the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, marking a pivotal shift in South Africa’s energy policy. Separating electricity from the traditional mining and energy portfolio allowed for more focused leadership on decarbonisation and infrastructure.
In this new role, Dr Ramokgopa wasted no time signalling his intentions. He announced that his department would adopt an “ultra-aggressive” approach to renewable energy rollouts and grid expansion, leaning heavily on the private sector to expedite implementation.
South Africa’s Energy Transition
Dr Ramokgopa’s approach is multifaceted. Central to his strategy is the massive expansion of South Africa’s electricity grid, which remains a key bottleneck for connecting new renewable energy projects - especially in provinces like the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape, where solar and wind resources are abundant.
He has initiated a private sector led grid build programme, the first of its kind in South Africa. This grid expansion is essential. South Africa’s transmission network was built around its coal-fired power stations in Mpumalanga, but most of the best renewable energy resources lie hundreds of kilometres away. Without new transmission lines, these solar and wind farms can’t feed their electricity into the national system.
In parallel, Dr Ramokgopa is working closely with the Independent Power Producers (IPP) Office to accelerate new bidding rounds for wind, solar, battery storage, and green hydrogen projects.
One of the hallmarks of his leadership has been his openness to consultation and his evidence based decision-making. He frequently convenes technical task teams and advisory councils to ensure that policies are politically sound and technically feasible.
Dr Ramokgopa is keenly aware that South Africa’s energy transition must not come at the expense of workers and communities in coal-dependent regions. He has championed a just transition framework that includes retraining coal workers, funding local economic diversification, and ensuring that renewable energy projects offer ownership opportunities to communities.
In provinces like Mpumalanga, where many coal plants are scheduled for decommissioning, his department is working with the Department of Labour and SETAs to implement reskilling programmes that help workers transition to clean energy and infrastructure roles.
This commitment to social justice has helped him build cross-sector support—from unions to investors to environmentalists—a rare feat in a sector often plagued by division.
At a time when energy insecurity threatens South Africa’s economic recovery and environmental resilience, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has emerged as a decisive and visionary leader. Armed with academic rigour, political experience, and a passion for inclusive development, he is charting a bold new path for the country’s energy future—one where clean energy, private sector collaboration, and social equity converge.
As he continues dismantling outdated systems and laying the foundation for a green economy, Dr Ramokgopa is proving that with the right leadership, South Africa can turn its energy crisis into an opportunity for transformation.
Source: Daily Maverick | South African Government