Cape Town — The Democratic Alliance (DA) and ActionSA have criticised the government for appealing the High Court decision to have schools, hospitals, clincis and police stations exempt from load shedding.
In December last year, the High Court ruled that load shedding was a violation of human rights and as such, schools, hospitals, clinics and police stations would be exempt from experiencing any load shedding. Electricity Minister, Kgotsientso Ramokgopa was given until 31 January 2024 to end load shedding at public facilities.
However, this ruling was later appealed by Ramokgopa, president Cyril Ramaphosa and Eskom, with the power utility’s legal representative, Advocate Max du Plessis, arguing that his client believed that the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) could rule otherwise in the litigation, The Citizen reported.
Du Plessis told the court that the exemption could lead to a grid collapse, thus derailing government’s energy action plan to resolve load shedding.
The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has today heard applications from the South African government and Eskom to appeal a ruling that stated government should exempt schools, healthcare facilities, police stations etc from load shedding.
ActionSA & DA are opposing. TCG pic.twitter.com/bjfbT3nv32
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 27, 2024
According to SABC News, Eskom’s leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) argues that the court granted exemption relief without being requested by any party. It said the court order was vague and does not take electricity regulatory frameworks into consideration, meaning it will be difficult to implement.
Both the DA and ActionSA took issue with the government’s appeal. DA’s The DA’s lawyer, Anton Katz, said government and Eskom were passing the buck between each other, with no one to blame for load shedding, EWN reported.
ActionSA members were protesting outside the North Gauteng High Court to appeal the decision, with the party’s leader, Herman Mashaba, and the party’s member for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mpho Madisha, vocal over the government’s decision.
“We are here because the government and Eskom are appealing [the court ruling protecting critical services from load shedding]. We are very happy with the case that our legal representatives have presented, and believe that we stand a very good chance.” Madisha said.
ActionSA is the only party outside the North Gauteng High Court, where the ANC government is appealing a judgement to provide electricity to hospitals, police stations and schools.
This government will rather spend your money appealing in court, than to provide electricity to… pic.twitter.com/TIY6lYwmrB
— ActionSA (@Action4SA) March 27, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
