Lichtenburg Electricity Crisis: Eskom serves notice to oppose DA’s urgent High Court application

22 August 2023

Eskom yesterday served notice that it intends to oppose the DA’s urgent Pretoria High Court application on Thursday, 24 August 2023.

We will proceed with our case, supported by the Ditsobotla Dienste-vereeniging, to ensure that Eskom never again exploits a similar crisis again at the expense of residents.

While Eskom resumed bulk electricity supply to the whole of Lichtenburg yesterday evening, the fact remains that the extended electricity blackouts have caused irreparable harm to Lichtenburg residents, and businesses, and threatened the viability of the local economy.

It is interesting to note that Eskom blatantly refused to engage us despite three legal letters of demand submitted to the entity before we approached the High Court for urgent access.

Instead of constructively engaging us, Eskom changed its unlawful debt recovery strategy in desperation to avoid being found in contempt of court. We are confident that the High Court will not take kindly to this unacceptable behaviour.

Eskom did not want to talk to us, despite our best efforts, so now we will have a conversation with them in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday.

Issued by Leon Basson, DA North West Provincial Leader, 22 August 2023