BL Premium reports that the government will be filing an urgent appeal against a recent court order compelling it to exempt hospitals, schools and police stations from load-shedding.
The interim order handed down by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Friday, and which must be implemented within 60 days, states that Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan should take reasonable steps to ensure “sufficient supply or generation of electricity to prevent any interruption of supply as a result of load-shedding” to these facilities. The judgment follows an application brought by 19 organisations, including opposition parties, nongovernmental organisations and individuals. Gordhan, who expressed “serious concerns” about the judgment, confirmed his department would “lodge an appeal to set aside the ruling and allow for the ongoing efforts to end load-shedding to proceed without putting undue risk on the country’s grid infrastructure.” His department believes that the judgment will have unintended consequences and will “undermine the very efforts to balance the protection of the rights that were ventilated in this case, with the need to stabilise and protect our grid infrastructure.” The view of the department was echoed by the Presidency. UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, whose organisation was party to the successful litigation to force the government to keep the lights on, believes that appealing against the court ruling would send the wrong signal that the government does not care about citizens’ rights being infringed.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tauriq Moosa at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
- Read too, Gordhan to appeal load shedding exemption ruling, at Moneyweb
- En ook, Hofbesluit oor beurtkrag ‘verkeerd’, sê ekonoom, by Maroela Media
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page