Photo: The Citizen/Michel Bega
Build One South Africa (Bosa) leader Mmusi Maimane has launched a petition against the government to stop its appeal against a court ruling that compels it to exempt schools, hospitals and police stations from loadshedding.
Speaking outside the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto on Wednesday morning, Maimane said South Africans faced another blatant attempt by the government to abuse its citizens.
“And will use our public funds and taxpayer money to do so through lawyers’ fees. If Gordhan and his cabinet colleagues can receive uninterrupted electricity at their luxurious homes, then there is no excuse for hospitals, schools, and police stations to go without,” said Maimane.
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said his department would file an urgent appeal to set aside a judgment handed down by the North Gauteng High Court on Friday.
The court ordered government to exempt all public hospitals, clinics, schools and police stations from load shedding.
Gordhan said the department had serious concerns about the implications of such a court ruling because it directly impacts on the stability of the national grid.
“The department has studied the ruling and has determined through legal advice that the prudent step to take is to 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,” Gordhan said.
“After last week’s court ruling ordering government to instate uninterrupted electricity supply to all public hospitals, schools and police stations, Minister Gordhan wants to prolong this “human catastrophe”, legally, through the courts.”
ALSO READ: Gordhan to appeal court ruling on load shedding exemptions
According to Maimane, Cabinet ministers have been shielded from blackouts by the government spending more than R7 million to buy generators and inverters for them at their official homes.
He also said that it was unconscionable that South Africans have paid under R55 million for the bill for water and electricity at ministerial homes across the country over the past four years.
The Bosa leader said his party would approach every organisation that welcomed this judgment and also appeal to those inside the ANC and government who do not agree with Minister Gordhan’s approach to speak up and sign the petition.
“Minister Gordhan, we wish to remind you that that every death at a hospital without power, every crime that cannot be reported or investigated due to loadshedding, and every child’s education that is affected by classrooms in darkness, is on his hands.
“What we are witnessing is a gross violation of Human Rights, not only in the health, educational and security sectors, but across all spheres of South African society. We call on South Africans to stand up and use their voice to end this abuse at the hands of the government,” he said.
READ THE PETITION HERE
READ MORE: Court orders government to exempt schools, hospitals, police stations from load shedding
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