While loadshedding continues, essential services cannot be left in the dark Photo Pexels
South Africa – Government will appeal a court ruling that exempts schools, healthcare facilities, and police stations from loadshedding within 60 days. The Ministry of Public Enterprises said the appeal is necessary to avoid an “undue risk” to the country’s power grid.
The ruling was made in response to an application by several groups seeking exemptions for essential services during loadshedding, including hospitals, clinics, schools, police stations, and water and sanitation services. However, the judgement only focused on education, health, and policing facilities. The court also stated that alternate energy supplies should be secured to ensure uninterrupted power in cases where it is impossible to isolate embedded buildings from loadshedding.
Unfortunately, loadshedding is here to stay. While there are short and long term solutions to the problem, while it is here, we should make alternative arrangements for essential services, said Advocate Stefanie Fick, Executive Director of the Accountability and Public Governance Division at OUTA. Instead of doing that, the government is more focused on fighting court cases than helping the public.
“The court took into consideration that Eskom needs to protect the grid … but still said, as the government, you are still responsible. If you can’t exempt a hospital, school or a police station from loadshedding, it is your responsibility to make sure that there’s alternative electricity. Then it’s just disappointing that again we are not trying to solve a problem. We are going to appeal the matter and there is going to be litigation. Instead of using taxpayers money for court cases, can’t we find a solution to actually treat the problem?”
Stop the blame game and solve loadshedding and its issues
Government is in the unique position of being the only ones who can solve the current issues at hand. It is their job to find practical solutions that benefit everyone rather than run to the courts. While the political blame game continues behind the scenes, people are losing their lives.
“I’ve heard too many stories about communities wanting to help, reaching out and making plans of their own. I really do think it’s high time the government loses this thing about whose fault it is. We have a loadshedding problem … In order to save lives, this is literally about saving lives, can’t we get generators or solar or battery power etc.”
From 1998, Eskom and the Southern African Development Community warned the government they would run out of electricity in the future. Instead of being on the ball, they left building the new power stations too late and now they are once again hesitating to attain renewable electricity, said Fick.
Stefanie Fick and Inayet Wadee also discussed who is to blame and how government can use taxpayers money more efficiently. Listen to the podcast here:
