Page 84 - Alan Winde News Today

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde is expected to deliver his 2023 State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Thursday, 16 February. WINDE IS TO DELIVER SOPA ON

The first three hours of the debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address have been dominated by South Africa's energy crisis.

The DA has done an about-turn on its position on the National State of Disaster, announcing a court challenge after calling for one to be declared.

South Africans need to stand behind the government’s plans to end the electricity crisis, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said on Sunday.

The DA is going to court to challenge the declaration of a state of disaster over South Africa’s energy crisis to avert a potential “looting frenzy” — even though it previously said it wanted a state of disaster declared.

In a surprise move, the DA said it feared a looting spree similar to the one seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the party previously calling for the energy crisis to be declared a disaster.

Official opposition will also ask for an urgent hearing of its challenge to section 27 of the Disaster Management Act

‘The reality is that all municipalities struggle to provide water and wastewater services as soon as there is Level 4 load shedding.’

Western Cape finance and economic opportunities MEC Mireille Wenger has authorised the release of R88.8m in emergency funding to procure backup generators to keep water treatment and supply services running during load-shedding.

"I challenge Alan Winde; call the leaders of the opposition, and actually engage," says Western Cape ANC leader Cameron Dugmore.