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Ramokgopa rejects calls to bury rural power lines

Dailydispatch · · 431 words · By Tara Roos
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/2026-05-11-ramokgopa-rejects-calls-to-bury-…

fact_checkFact-Check Results

12 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 4
check_circle Corroborated 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
schedule Pending 2
verified Verified 1
verified Verified By Reference 1
verified
“Minister of electricity and energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has ruled out the large-scale laying of underground electricity infrastructure in flood-prone rural areas”
VERIFIED
A web search result explicitly states that Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa ruled out large-scale underground infrastructure in flood-prone rural areas due to cost and theft risks. Wikipedia confirms his role as Minister of Electricity and Energy.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Kgosientsho David "Sputla" Ramokgopa (born 25 January 1975) is a South African politician who was the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity from 2023, and the Minister of Electricity …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kgosientsho_Ramokgopa
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The minister of electricity and energy is the energy minister in the Cabinet of South Africa. The office in its current form was established in June 2024 in a merger between the minister in the presid…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Electricity_and_En…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The minister of planning, monitoring and evaluation is the minister in the Cabinet of South Africa with political responsibility for the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. In recent ye…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Planning,_Monitori…
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“Parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga were placed under severe weather warnings earlier this year, including a level 10 warning for extreme flood risk issued by the South African Weather Service in January.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
While evidence confirms flooding in Limpopo and Mpumalanga and the existence of the South African Weather Service, no specific source provided confirms a 'level 10 warning' issued in January.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The list of weather records includes the most extreme occurrences of weather phenomena for various categories. Many weather records are measured under specific conditions—such as surface temperature a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_weather_records
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is the meteorological service under the South African government's Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. SAWS is a member of the World Meteorologica…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Weather_Service
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of weather events that occurred on Earth in the year 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_of_2026
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“most areas affected by floods in the two provinces were rural villages where electricity networks were largely made up of overhead lines.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Evidence confirms catastrophic flooding in rural areas of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, but there is no independent corroboration specifically confirming that the networks in these specific villages were 'largely made up of overhead lines'.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — General elections were held in South Africa on 8 May 2019 to elect a new President, National Assembly and provincial legislatures in each province. These were the sixth elections held since the end of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_South_African_general_ele…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bushbuckridge (also known as Mapulaneng) is the main town in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It grew around a trading store that opened in 1884, and is …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushbuckridge
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mpumalanga (; Portuguese: Mepumalanga) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Nguni languages. Mpumalanga lies in east…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mpumalanga
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Eskom was instead intensifying preventative maintenance in affected provinces as a short- to medium-term measure to reduce infrastructure failures.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results indicate Eskom is performing maintenance and infrastructure upgrades to improve network reliability and reduce pressure on ageing systems.
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web search NEUTRAL — South Africa's state power company Eskom is battling a legacy of neglect, mismanagement and state capture as it struggles to bring an end to rolling blackout...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-cLiO0AFDc
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web search NEUTRAL — Eskom continues to implement load reduction as a temporary, targeted measure in high-risk areas to protect both communities and the electricity network. To address these challenges sustainably, Eskom …
https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-sustains-grid-performance-as-c…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Maintenance aimed at improving network reliability. The emergency maintenance comes as Eskom continues with infrastructure upgrades and repairs in several parts of Gauteng to reduce pressure on ageing…
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/eskom-announces-nearly-…
info
“soil erosion linked to mining activity had also contributed to the difficulties experienced during flood events.”
SINGLE SOURCE
General information about soil erosion is available, but no specific evidence links mining-related soil erosion to the flood events in the mentioned South African provinces.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Soil erosion (especially from agricultural activity) is considered to be the leading global cause of diffuse water pollution, due to the effects of the excess sediments flowing into the world's waterw…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_erosion
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Quora is a place to gain and share knowledge. It's a platform to ask questions and connect with people who contribute unique insights and quality answers. This empowers people to learn from each other…
https://www.quora.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — It combines field observations in the river basin with soil erosion modelling and aims at quantifying the contribution from natural erosion of metal-rich soil to observed increases in mass flows of me…
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10113-017-1169-6
info
“electricity infrastructure in Mpumalanga was not adversely affected by the recent floods, with most interruptions recorded in Limpopo.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Evidence confirms floods in both Limpopo and Mpumalanga, but there is no specific data provided to compare the volume of electricity interruptions between the two provinces.
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web search NEUTRAL — A flood-surrounded house in Ilmajoki, South Ostrobothnia. Floods can happen on flat or low-lying areas when water is supplied by rainfall or snowmelt more rapidly than it can either infiltrate or run …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Reuters news agency reports that flooding in south-eastern Africa has become more frequent and severe as climate change makes storms in the adjacent Indian Ocean more powerful. GCIS via EPA A woma…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgl8n3jjnd1o
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Limpopo floods 2026, flooding impact in Limpopo, community recovery after floods, South Africa flood disaster, Mpumalanga region flood response, Limpopo flood damage assessment, environmental impact o…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/floods-in-mpumalanga-nkomazi…
info
“theft and vandalism of pylon struts occurred frequently in Tshwane, particularly on the Pelly/Hangklip line”
SINGLE SOURCE
General evidence confirms that Eskom suffers from theft and vandalism, but no specific source in the provided evidence corroborates the frequent theft of pylon struts specifically on the 'Pelly/Hangklip line' in Tshwane.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The mines, the telcos and Eskom are all suffering from this vandalism and theft, and that needs to be addressed,” he said. Bird outlined both the progress made by Transnet in improving freight rail vo…
https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/theft-vandalism-cr…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Oduntan maintained that energy theft and vandalism of properties can be tackled through collaboration between communities and DisCos. He called on communities to guard their properties against vandals…
https://tribuneonlineng.com/energy-theft-vandalism-bane-of-e…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Hangklip mountain marks the eastern end of False Bay. The small community of Hangklip live right on the shoreline. Scenic ocean view at Hangklip. Hangklip is a beautiful stretch of coastline that …
https://southafrica.co.za/hangklip.html
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“Eskom was implementing a combination of smart-grid technologies and strengthened security measures to protect vulnerable electricity assets.”
CORROBORATED
Eskom's own communications and web results mention harnessing technology, upgrading infrastructure, and using satellites to monitor the grid to ensure a smarter and more reliable network.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Eskom is harnessing technology, upgrading infrastructure, and partnering with communities to ensure a safer, smarter, and more reliable power network for South Africa. Eskom calls on communities to re…
https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-sustains-grid-performance-as-c…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — South African households and businesses that have not registered their grid-tied solar power installations should be aware that Eskom is using satellites to identify properties with such systems.
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/599490-eskom-using-sat…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — In preparation for a particularly cold front in early June, Eskom managed to return approximately 2,500 megawatts of generation capacity to the grid. This proactive step allowed the utility to better …
https://www.arcadiafinance.co.za/news/encouraging-news-for-s…
help
“installation of cameras on the Pelly/Hangklip line to support rapid response.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the search results regarding the installation of cameras on the Pelly/Hangklip line.
help
“Eskom was also replacing old lattice structures with monopoles, installing physical deterrents and structural reinforcements on pylons”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the search results regarding the replacement of lattice structures with monopoles or specific physical deterrents on pylons.
schedule
“In 2023, Eskom reported five pylons had collapsed in the Hammanskraal area after theft and vandalism compromised the integrity of the towers”
PENDING
schedule
“the City of Tshwane blamed metal theft for the collapse of other pylons that year.”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.