The Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan. (Photo: ANA)
The trade union Numsa condemns the decision of Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Public Enterprises, to submit an urgent appeal application against the Pretoria High Court’s ruling that all public hospitals and clinics, schools and police stations must be exempted from load shedding.
Numsa was one of 19 applicants who submitted an application with the hope that the court can put an end to load shedding. According to the order, steps must be taken within the next two months to ensure that these institutions have uninterrupted power.
“The court ruling simply requires the state to fulfill its constitutional duty to ensure access to health care, safety and education. However, the state is now choosing not to heed it, instead wasting taxpayers’ money on useless appeals,” said Irvin Jim, Numsa’s secretary general.
Jim goes on to say that if there are further hospital deaths due to load shedding, or if children do not have access to education and crimes remain unsolved, it will be Gordhan and the ANC government’s fault.
“We reject this immoral appeal application by Cyril Ramaphosa’s government. It’s time for the whole country to stand up against the incompetence and recklessness of the national government which puts the collective being and future of the whole country in jeopardy.
“As was emphasized by the senior advocate for the applicants during the hearing, load shedding is not an act of God. It was caused by the state. The court order simply instructs Ramaphosa’s government to comply with the basic legislation of the country.”
Numsa further demands that the judgment of the High Court take effect immediately.
Jim also slammed the government for never accepting responsibility for the power crisis in the country or coming up with solutions.
Numsa says it has warned the government several times to maintain coal-fired power stations, but that the union has simply been ignored.
“We have to ask, what kind of government is it that refuses to accept any responsibility to solve problems? Why bother to hold the highest office if your response to a crisis is to run away? We are clearly not being led.
“This latest action is just further proof that the ANC has no solutions.”
