ActionSA opposes Eskom's load shedding appeal

ACTIONSA has slammed the government for failing to uphold the Constitution in ensuring the preservation of the rights of public institutions.

This comes as the State has sought to appeal against sections of the Eskom ruling which exempted critical public institutions from load shedding, saying the judgment was “too vague”.

Last year Gauteng High Court, Pretoria Judge Norman Davis concluded that the government’s failure to safeguard Eskom from criminal activity and state capture, which led to the energy crisis and load shedding, violated the Bill of Rights.

Judge Davis instructed Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa to take action by January 31 this year, to ensure sufficient electricity supply to prevent interruptions at these public health establishments, schools and police services.

This judgment declared load shedding unconstitutional and ordered the Minister of Electricity, together with the organs of state, to ensure that electricity supply was ensured for public schools, hospitals and police stations.

However, the state is taking the ruling on appeal.

ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba criticised Eskom, the president and the electricity minister for spending millions of taxpayers’ money to appeal against the judgment.

“Instead of addressing the concerns raised by the court ruling, including protecting the most vulnerable against the power crisis by exempting schools, police stations and hospitals, the president, the minister and Eskom have rather decided to spend taxpayers’ money to appeal against the ruling.

“Communities across South Africa have been adversely affected by load shedding when police stations’ telephone lines don’t work, hospitals fail to take care of sick patients when the lights go off, or studies are interrupted at schools with no power.

“The government alleges, in the appeal, that there is ‘insufficient evidence’ to demonstrate this obvious fact. It is our duty to protect these crucial services, and it is deeply concerning that the president, the minister and Eskom simply do not care.”

Mashaba said ActionSA had a plan to end load shedding within two years by, among others, liberalising the electricity market and ending nepotism at Eskom. “In the 17 years since load shedding was first introduced in 2007, the ruling party has been unable to take action to address the energy crisis, but

an ActionSA government would end it within two years of taking over the government following the elections.

“We will do everything in our power to protect the most vulnerable South Africans from the failures of the ruling party and will take whatever steps necessary to ensure that the government is held accountable,” he said.

Load shedding remains one of the biggest inhibitors to job creation, Mashaba said, with thousands of small businesses being forced to close as a result; furthermore, incidents of crime spike when load shedding occurs.

“ActionSA is committed to South Africans and will place pressure on the government to protect citizens from the devastating consequences of load shedding and the government’s failure to provide other essential services.”