South Africa revokes state of disaster over power

The South African government has decided to revoke a national state of disaster that it declared in February to address the electricity crisis.

The state of disaster meant it could use emergency procurement procedures with fewer bureaucratic delays in a bid to end severe power cuts.

There had been concern that this would open the door to further corruption in the state-owned power company, Eskom.

It has been mired in scandals and is more than $20bn (£16bn) in debt.

The government now says it can deal with the crisis through existing legislation.

Power cuts have eased in recent weeks but continue to affect all of South Africa on a daily basis.

South Africa's Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has also reversed a decision to exempt Eskom from declaring all of its expenditure.

The opposition had said the policy was an acceptance of corruption in the power sector.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

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