Pravin Gordhan: ‘’Eskom is finalising urgent plans to curb load shedding’’

Headed by minister Pravin Gordhan, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) says it is doing everything possible to end or minimise load shedding.

Gordhan’s department announced that those who stand in its way will face the full force of the law as it released a statement to the media.

The department’s new standpoint was in a response statement to a letter from Mabuza Attorneys demanding that the department and Eskom make certain undertakings regarding load shedding and the 18.65% electricity tariff increase granted by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).

“We want to assure the public that everything possible is being done to end or minimise load shedding,” said the DPE.

“However, those who are a part of corruption, intimidation, and abuse of procurement practices or obstruct the government’s efforts to clean up each power station of such corruption, will face the full might of the law.

“All South Africans must unite to eliminate this corruption. At the same time, Eskom is in the process of finalising its plans to take further urgent steps to stabilise the power station’s performance and reliability.”

The attorney’s letter has been acknowledged by the government and it represents the views of opposition politicians and South Africa’s biggest labour unions.

The communique states that groups of public interest are in a position to engage in a lawsuit against Eskom’s CEO Andre de Ruyter and Gordhan.

It is mentioned that if the two do not devise a detailed plan to stop rolling blackouts and reverse the recent tariff hike by Nersa, the lawsuit will come into effect.

The Democratic Movement, Build One South Africa, the Inkatha Freedom Party, and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa are part of the signatories.

“We demand that the state will commit to compensate everyone who has suffered quantifiable financial losses because of load shedding,” added the letter.

If the government and Eskom choose not to comply with the demands by 20 January, they will face legal action, seeking relief for the damage caused by the outages by 23 January, stated the letter.

According to the DPE, it is still considering the letter and seeking legal advice on the matter and will respond in due course.

“South Africans, who have already had to spend a third of 2022 in darkness and are burdened with indefinite stage 6 load shedding, are now expected to also pay for the looting and mismanagement of Eskom through exorbitant tariff increases,” said DA leader John Steenhuisen.

“In light of the worsening electricity crisis…I have instructed our lawyers to apply to the High Court of South Africa for an interdict to stop the implementation of this tariff increase.”