South Africa declares state of national disaster to end blackouts

CAPE TOWN: South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national disaster on Thursday in a bid to fast-track efforts to tackle a record electricity shortage that has put the brakes on economic growth in Africa's most industrialised economy.

"We are therefore declaring a national state of disaster to respond to the electricity crisis and its impact," Ramaphosa said in a keynote annual address that was delayed by opposition lawmakers who tried to block him from delivering it.