BOSA
Build One South Africa said it would launch a petition to force the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, to keep the lights on in hospitals, schools, and police stations during load shedding.
BOSA leader, Mmusi Maimane said this was in response to Gordhan's decision to appeal a High Court ruling last week, ordering him to keep the power on in identified institutions.
He said this was a betrayal of the poor.
Maimane said Gordhan should be working day and night to ensure that schools, hospitals, and police stations receive uninterrupted electricity.
However, he said he would now spend millions of Rand of taxpayers' money on legal fees, to keep the lights off and maintain the status quo.
“We wish to remind Minister Gordhan that every death at a hospital without power, every crime that cannot be reported or investigated due to load shedding, and every child's education that is affected by classrooms in darkness, is on his hands,” Maimane warned.
He called on Minister Gordhan to stop wasting time and taxpayers' money “on frivolous court action - and get on with serving the needs of our people.”
On Friday, a Pretoria High Court gave Gordhan two months days to take all reasonable steps to ensure these establishments are spared from experiencing disruptions from power cuts.
Furthermore, the court said where such buildings cannot be isolated from the grid, that he makes a plan to source alternative supplies, such as generators to keep them running.
Maimane said Gordhan should start by complying with the court order and deliver electricity in 60 days.
