PHUTI MOSOMANE
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa told Parliament on Thursday that it is not practically feasible to exempt hospitals, clinics, schools, and police stations from load shedding as directed by a recent High Court ruling.
The ruling required Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan to ensure, within 60 days, that there is enough power supply to prevent any disruptions caused by load shedding in all public health facilities defined by the National Health Act, all public schools as per the South African Schools Act, and all police stations.
However, Ramaphosa stated that the exemption of such critical institutions from load shedding is not practically possible.
During a Q&A session in the National Assembly, Ramaphosa warned that the power grid would collapse if the government were to fully implement the recent Gauteng High Court, Pretoria ruling to exempt certain institutions from load shedding.
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Chief Whip Narend Singh asked Ramaphosa about the ruling’s impact on hospitals and power supply and the appeal by Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, which was supported by the cabinet on Thursday.
Ramaphosa explained that although he would like hospitals and schools to be exempt from load shedding, it is technically and engineering-wise impossible to do so.
He further emphasized that load shedding is only implemented as a last resort.
“Much as we want that energy that electricity must be generated, it is just practically not possible. The appeal is being done because to implement it would collapse the grid,” he said.
The UDM’s Nqabayomzi Kwankwa warned Ramaphosa about further litigation on the loadshedding case.
He urged the government to make funds available to provide support to clinics and hospitals, including those without working generators.
On conflict within his Cabinet
Ramaphosa told Parliament that the ministers responsible for electricity, public enterprises, and energy were working together effectively.
He dismissed allegations of poor power supply in the country since he assumed office.
According to Ramaphosa, the energy plan created in 2019 is still operational, but the government could not have predicted the unforeseen events such as the collapse of three Kusile units and another three in a different power station at the same time.
Ramaphosa informed Members of Parliament that South Africa requires emergency energy to address the current power supply issues.
He noted that other countries have tackled similar situations by bringing in ships to immediately address energy challenges. He stated that South Africa would take similar measures while prioritizing the development of other generation capacities, including green energy.
Regarding allegations of corruption at Eskom, in response to a written question from Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen, Ramaphosa stated that he had not received any evidence linking senior politicians or cabinet members to corrupt activities at Eskom.
He further urged anyone with information regarding such allegations to report it to the police.
Ramaphosa was also asked why he has not made “any effort’ to identify the individual involved, who De Ruyter has indicated is politically linked to corruption at Eskom.
Ramaphosa said it is very easy to make a rumour on something.
“But where’s the evidence to back that up?” he asked.
“Those with it must go to the authorities and report. Let that matter be investigated, rather than to deal with innuendo. I need to deal with real evidence which has to be done through due process of the law. We cannot run a banana republic in South Africa.”
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