Ramaphosa removes SOEs from the Department of Public Enterprises

CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally removed state-owned enterprises (SOEs) from the Department of Public Enterprises.

The president has assigned key SOEs like Eskom and South African Airways (SAA) to their line ministers in energy and transport, respectively.

ALSO READ: Ramaphosa announces takeover of SOEs by holding company for effective monitoring

However, the Department of Public Enterprises still exists in the interim.

The soon-to-be-defunct department has officially been stripped of all SOEs.

This will bring to a close an undertaking made by the president in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) earlier in 2024.

Eskom will now fall under Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, SAA and Transnet under Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy, and arms manufacturer Denel with Minister of Defence Angie Motshekga.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said: "The president has signed proclamations which, in terms of Section 97 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, transfer that administration, powers, and functions entrusted by the specified legislation."

However, Magwenya said the Department of Public Enterprises will continue to exist and operate until human and financial resources are transferred.