Eskom believes that a landmark ruling by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, compelling it, along with Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, to try its level best to exempt key institutions from load shedding tramples on the separation of powers.
The December 1 order directed Ramokgopa, along with other state bodies, to take reasonable steps to exempt all public health institutions, including hospitals and clinics, public schools and police stations, including satellite stations, from the impacts of load shedding by the end of January.
In reaction to the ruling, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the outcome was a confirmation of the government’s programme.
“We want our schools and hospitals to have the requisite amount of energy.
“We did say in the court papers that while that is our strategic objective, the issue of…