A high court last week ruled that government spare schools, police stations and healthcare facilities of load shedding within 60 days.Economists say it will be fiscally and practically impossible for government to prevent load shedding for these facilities within 60 days.Government will lodge an urgent appeal against a ruling that it prevent load shedding for schools, healthcare facilities and police stations within 60 days.
In a statement, Gordhan said that the Department of Public Enterprises had"serious concerns" about the implications of the court ruling on the current efforts to stabilise the national grid and to get the country out of load shedding. The decision comes following statements by presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya that an appeal would be"very likely".Economists meanwhile have expressed doubts that government would be able to abide by the court order, for practical reasons.
Judgment was reserved on Part B of the ruling, where applicants want the court to issue an order to hold President Cyril Ramaphosa legally responsible for the human cost of load shedding.