PHUTI MOSOMANE
A GROUP comprising of political parties, several NPOs and businessmen has written to the Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan and Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd calling for an end to load-shedding, or come up with a timetable to do so, and reverse the almost 19% tariff increase awarded to the utility.
Speaking through Mabuza Attorneys, the group is demanding a guarantee from the State that “there will be no load shedding without procedural fairness and a fair opportunity to make alternative arrangements to affected persons and businesses.”
The group includes UDM leaders Bantu Holomisa, founder of the Build One South Africa Mmusi Maimane, Inkatha Freedom Party, National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, Ikasi Farming, Ntsikie Mgayiya Real Estate, the Circle and policy analyst Lukhona Mnguni.
South Africans are currently suffering about 10 hours of power cuts daily.
The group demands that load-shedding must stop with immediate effect, and if not, a full explanation about why the government is unable to stop load-shedding with immediate effect.
It says the Minister of Public Enterprises and Eskom must provide a specific timetable as to when load shedding will end, and the reasons for the said timetable.
In addition, Gordhan is requested to develop and make publicly available a clear plan to end load shedding, which plan must include the resources available to ensure that it is realised.
On electricity tariff, the group demands that the 18.65% increase granted by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) must not be implemented pending the determination of the court challenge which the group intends to institute.
Lastly, the group goes further to demand that the state must, through any lawfully created mechanism, make reasonable disclosure to the public on the challenges driving the energy crisis and the solutions implemented to solve it; and that the state will commit to compensate everyone who has suffered quantifiable financial losses because of load shedding.
Gordhan has until this Friday to provide answers to the group’s demands.
“In the event that the undertakings sought are not provided by 20 January 2023 we are instructed to inform you, as we hereby do, that application will be made to a court of competent jurisdiction to secure appropriate relief. If we are compelled to bring proceedings which we hope to avoid, papers shall be lodged on 23 January 2023 for urgent relief,” Mabuza Attorneys said in a statement.
Earlier, DA leader John Steenhuisen said he has instructed lawyers to apply to the High Court for an interdict to stop the implementation of the 18.65% electricity tariff increase granted to Eskom by NERSA.
The DA also wants the court to have NERSA’s decision of 12 January 2023 declared inconsistent with the Constitution of South Africa, to have it declared invalid, and to have it set aside.
Steenhuisen said the DA wanted the court “to have the ongoing and repeated decisions to implement loadshedding declared inconsistent with the Constitution and therefore invalid, and to have these decisions set aside.”
The party, which is the country’s official opposition, is asking the court to direct the government to file, within 30 days, a comprehensive plan, including short-term, medium-term and long-term steps, to avert the energy crisis.
The DA will march to the headquarters of the ruling ANC next Wednesday, a move seen by the ANC Free State as “harmful and dangerous”.
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