Unions welcome load shedding exemption for essential services
The South African Federation of Trade Union (Saftu) and the National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (Numsa) have welcomed the judgement handed in the Pretoria High Court this week, which has exempted three essential services from the dire impact of load shedding.
On Friday the court ruled that public healthcare facilities, public schools and the South African Police Services and its police stations be exempted from blackouts.
Saftu spokesperson, Trevor Shaku says that load shedding violates the rights of the general population in the country.
“In particular, its impact on the lives and rights of the overwhelming working-class majority is devastating. Unlike the economic elite, the working class cannot afford alternative sources of energy for their household heating and cooking,” he says.
“Furthermore, they rely on public institutions such as hospitals, clinics and schools that do not have back-up generators, and those that do have back-up generators, do not have sufficient budget to fuel those generators at all times when hit by power cuts.”
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Numsa says the judgement handed by the court is a victory for the entire country.
“The state was infringing on the fundamental constitutional rights brought about by the failures of organs of state and that appropriate relief is justified,” they say.
The High Court judgment has ordered Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan to take reasonable steps within 60 days, to “ensure sufficient generation electricity to prevent interruption of supply of power to these institutions.”
The second part of the case relates to whether load shedding itself is unconstitutional, and is enrolled for a hearing in September.
