Pretoria: Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham-Mar© has refuted claims of excluding local players from South Africa’s Independent Transmission Project (ITP) Programme, a misunderstanding circulating among the public. The Deputy Minister addressed these concerns during the Disinformation Dialogue hosted by the Institute of Security Studies, an event focused on combating misinformation and preserving local democracy.

According to South African Government News Agency, the ITP Programme is a key initiative aimed at attracting private investment to expand the national grid. The cost of this expansion is estimated to be around R440 billion, a financial burden that the government cannot bear alone. Graham-Mar© clarified misconceptions about the programme, highlighting that local industry involvement is a priority and that the initiative aims to foster the development of future local ITP participants.

The Deputy Minister emphasized the necessity of engaging experienced players in the field and mentioned that economic development elements are guided by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s designations for local content, along with compliance with its National Industrial Participation Programme among other socio-economic development obligations.

Addressing concerns about the potential privatisation of the grid, Graham-Mar© assured that the ITP programme is structured as a long-term concession, with a transfer back to the state at the end of the concession period. She reiterated that the state-owned National Transmission Company South Africa will remain the sole network operator.

Graham-Mar© also discussed the broader issue of disinformation, stressing the importance of maintaining the integrity of information to ensure the proper functioning of democracy. She warned that misinformation can quickly fill informational voids, turning falsehoods into perceived facts.

To combat this, the Deputy Minister highlighted the government’s responsibility to engage directly with citizens, especially those without easy access to the internet, through media, public meetings, dialogues, and interactions. Graham-Mar© concluded by underscoring the need for consistent public engagement to prevent disinformation from becoming a significant risk to the country.