By: Natasha Archary
The Presidency will likely appeal the court order for schools, hospitals, police stations and courts to receive a loadshedding exemption.
This after the North Gauteng High Court ruled that Eskom and Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan take all reasonable steps to ensure the order is put into effect.
On Friday, 05 May, Presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya said government will most likely appeal the order.
Listen to analysis with energy expert Adil Nchabeleng on Kaya Biz here:
However, the UDM, IFP, ActionSA, and the National Union of Metalworkers will continue bidding for health facilities, schools and other key facilities in the country remain loadshedding-free.
Eskom and Gordhan have 60-days to ensure the court ruling is adhered to, which Magwenya says is going to have a negative effect on the fiscus.
“We have significant concerns about the judgement and its impact on the stability of the grid and the negative effect on the fiscus. In that regard, an appeal is very likely.”
Views from energy experts over the court ruling suggest that a loadshedding exemption for hospitals, clinics, 23 000 public schools and police stations is simply not practical.
Kgose Moleshe, an Energy Analyst told SABC News that it will be almost impossible to enforce the court ruling.
“It is not practical at all because if you have schools, hospitals, etc, they are all embedded within the communities and what it will do in any case, if you were to do that, could lead to more intense loadshedding and also the potential importing of diesel generators, so you might as well use that money to reduce loadshedding.”
The court ruling was made by Judge Norman Davis on Friday, which found that there were repeated breaches by the state of its constitutional and statutory duties which infringe on citizen’s rights to healthcare, security and education.
