Electricity state of disaster to be scrapped

Less than two months after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa had declared a state of disaster (SOD) to deal with its energy supply crisis, it appears the SOD has been scrapped.

Both trade Solidarity and civil society grouping the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) said on Wednesday that they had secured victory over the government in forcing the early end of the SOD, which was imposed in early February.

In a tweet at 9.15am on Wednesday, Outa said its legal team had been informed that the electricity SOD and its associated regulations are being scrapped.

“This follows on from Outa’s legal challenge to stop the SOD. Big win for civil society. Press statement to follow,” Outa tweeted.

Then, at 9.25am, Solidarity posted on its Twitter account that it had “forced” the government to end “another state of disaster”. It said government had written to it to announce that the energy SOD would be withdrawn later in the day on Wednesday and that Solidarity should therefore withdraw the legal action it had taken in February to review government’s decision to impose the SOD.

Read: Ramaphosa declares state of disaster over energy crisis

Meanwhile, newly appointed cooperative governance & traditional affairs minister Thembi Nkadimeng has called a press conference for 2pm to “provide an update on the state of national disaster”. Nkadimeng replaced Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in the portfolio after Ramaphosa’s cabinet reshuffle in March.

Read: Can a state of disaster really help end load shedding?

Nkadimeng will be joined by electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. TechCentral will provide full coverage of the media briefing. – © 2023 NewsCentral Media

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