The regulations as announced by Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the Government Gazette of 27 February 2023 is rather moderate according to SAPTU (South African Parastatal and Tertiary Institutions Union).
The regulations give the minister the power to exempt essential infrastructure and services from loadshedding, but only where this is technically feasible and in accordance with the requirements and obligations of the system operator Eskom.
The list of essential infrastructure in terms of the regulations includes, among others, the following:
• Health facilities,
• water infrastructure,
• ports and railways,
• food production and security,
• critical communications and broadcasting infrastructure.
All spheres of government are instructed to conserve power. The continued operations of hospitals, clinics, water, and other essential infrastructure must be ensured.
It appears that more regulations will be introduced to prevent the extension of the state of disaster.
SAPTU will monitor the intended regulations in collaboration with other organisations such as its affiliation with the trade union federation FEDUSA because there are already many uncertainties about the practical implementation.
SAPTU will especially want to make sure that corruption and misuse of state funds do not take place. SAPTU welcomes the role that the Auditor-General and parliament will play in this regard.
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