The government urgently needs to provide uninterrupted power to public hospitals, schools, police stations and small businesses to avert a "humanitarian disaster," a coalition of political parties, trade unions and civil society groups has argued in court.
"We are asking for the bare essentials," lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi told the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. "Keep the hospitals open 24 hours a day, keep schools open 10 hours a day, keep police stations open 24 hours a day."
Ngcukaitobi is acting for the United Democratic Movement, the Inkatha Freedom Party, Musi Maimane's Build One South Africa, the SA Federation of Trade Unions and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA, among others, in their case against the state.