Gauteng residents struggle to access government services during load-shedding

20 June 2023

Gauteng residents in need of government services are battling to access these services during load-shedding.

Twenty-Nine Gauteng Provincial Government departments are unable to operate during loadshedding because they do not have any back-up generators. This information was revealed in a reply to the Democratic Alliance’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislator (GPL).

According to the MEC for Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development, Lebogang Maile, the Department of Social Development cannot deliver services during load-shedding. This is worrying as this department offers critical services to the most vulnerable in our province.

Furthermore, no provincial government departments have solar panels installed. The project for installing solar panels is still in the planning stage.

Load-shedding has now become the norm, and it is concerning that no progress has been made in installing solar panels on all provincial government buildings.

Government departments must still be able to operate as expected, even during load-shedding, so that residents can receive essential services.

The DA will be closely monitoring the roll-out of the installation of solar panels through the mechanisms in place at the GPL. Our residents cannot continue to struggle to access critical government services during load-shedding.

Where we govern in the Western Cape, the City of Cape Town has already put out a tender to procure 500MW of energy from Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

Issued by Patrick Atkinson, DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Finance, 20 June 2023