The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has criticised Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan for his decision to appeal the High Court judgment which orders that public schools, healthcare facilities and police stations be exempted from loadshedding.

Further, the judgment directed the department to take all reasonable steps to ensure the sufficient supply of electricity in these critical sectors of the economy.

Numsa's dismay comes as a result of the State’s inability to fulfil its constitutional duty to ensure access to healthcare, security and education.  

The union urges the State to examine deaths, unsolved crimes and the denial of education to children, which are all exacerbated by electricity disruptions. 

Numsa has also criticised the leadership capability of the African National Congress (ANC) by asserting that the party is failing to take responsibility for the loadshedding crisis which is crippling the economy. 

“We are sitting in the dark, paying more for electricity because government took the senseless decision to privatise energy generation through the useless IPPs, and to prematurely shut down coal-fired power stations,” stated Numsa secretary general Irvin Jim.

The union noted that more of taxpayer’s money will now be used to support the Minister’s appeal. 

“We demand the immediate implementation of the judgment, and for government to be compelled to do its job under the Constitution,” Jim said.