"Going forward, Eskom plans to continue with its maintenance programme in an effort to reduce the backlog that has accumulated over the past few years," Minister Brown said.
Speaking on Thursday, 18 June, during the department's Budget Vote at the National Council of Provinces, she appealed to South Africans to be patience with Eskom.
"Most importantly, it plans to execute the maintenance drive without having to implement loadshedding.
"We are all in it together and it will take us about 24 months to get us out of this position," she said.
An additional 160,000 households have been connected to the grid, improving the lives of thousands without additional capacity being added to increase capacity.
Eskom has invested R2.3bn in infrastructure development in Lephalale which included the building of 995 houses, the purchasing of a further 321 houses and the upgrades to Lephalale's two sewage plants.
"Furthermore, the Medupi Legacy Programme has invested R4.9bn in procurement and infrastructure development as part of Eskom's goal of ensuring a positive socio-economic legacy for the area and its communities," Minister Brown.
She said the Medupi's unit six was doing well.
"The ramp-up towards full capacity has passed the 800MW milestone. Over the next weeks, it will deliver the equivalent of more than 40% of the output of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant," Minister Brown said.
Eskom, in partnership with the Gauteng Province is continuing its investment of R6.056bn over a period of four years (2014/15 to 2017/18) to ensure security of supply to the Gauteng province and to support key strategic infrastructure projects.
In the Northern Cape, Transnet's Engineering established the Wagons Refurbishing facility that will maintain various types of wagons for Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) operations.
"An additional investment of R3m was made available to establish a Youth Precinct where shelter is given to 20 homeless boys," Minister Brown said.
The Vuyani sub-station, which is worth R392m, was launched in Umthatha.
The province's biggest sub-station has strengthened the electricity supply network of the Eastern Cape.
"In the Port of Nqguera, berths three and four were officially opened by Transnet.
"This expansion amounted to R2bn and to date Transnet has invested R12-billion in developing the Port," she said.
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