The utterances reported in the media attributed to Mr. Silas Zimu, Special Advisor to President Jacob Zuma on energy, at the Windaba energy conference in Cape Town, that Eskom "is going down and under, very very fast" are his personal views and do not represent the views of President Zuma, the Presidency or Government.

Mr. Zimu addressed the conference in his personal capacity.

Government will continue to provide support to Eskom and to strengthen the state-owned entity which is one of the country's central engines for economic growth and development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Presidency.