One government department had no CFO for a year and used unsupported operating systems, servers, and databases

Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, said that his department had to function without a chief financial officer for a year.

His department also had to deal with unsupported, end-of-life operating systems, servers, and databases.

Ramokgopa shared this information during a briefing to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy.

The Department of Electricity and Energy was established on 1 April 2025, when it was split from the former Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

The department, headed by Ramokgopa, oversees electricity security and policy coordination, and serves as the shareholder representative for Eskom.

He told Parliament that the department had a challenging start because it was built and operated simultaneously.

These challenges included the absence of a CFO for the 2026 financial year and limited support from the director general.

Another problem was the outdated IT infrastructure. The department faced end-of-life systems and a flat network without access control.

“Ageing laptops and outdated software constrained the department’s productivity and security,” he said.

“We also had no information system to monitor progress on targets, and our core processes were still done manually.”

“There was also no ICT service continuity process, and UPS replacement and ICT refresh procurement were delayed.”

Another challenge was the organisational culture, as the staff was brought together from the former DMRE and the former DPE.

Poor performance from the Department of Electricity and Energy

The Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy said the department’s performance was disappointing.

It said that the department’s annual performance plan reported a 96% expenditure of its allocated budget while achieving only 61% of its performance targets.

The Department of Electricity and Energy’s Director General, Thabo Kekana, said the department acknowledged its shortcomings.

Ramokgopa described the department’s performance in the 2026 financial year, with 61% of targets met, as less than flattering and a significant underperformance.

“Achieving 61% of our performance indicators is, by any stretch of the imagination, a gross underperformance,” he said.

“While there are reasons for this, including our inability to deliver the Integrated Energy Plan, it is not acceptable for a department to operate at that level.”

The Minister said that his department is busy redesigning its operating model and establishing a dedicated project management unit.

This new unit will function under the leadership of the Director General to strengthen procurement oversight, improve efficiency, and ensure value for money.

“We are redesigning the way the department operates. This will assist us in dealing with procurement challenges, efficiency concerns, and value for money,” he said.

The department acknowledged shortcomings in the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP).

“We are undertaking a comprehensive review of the programme, particularly in relation to the high cost of grid connections in remote areas,” he said.

“We will return to the committee with proposals aimed at improving efficiency and accelerating household connections.