Johannesburg - The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has denied that the generators installed at the Johannesburg high court are malfunctioning, saying the issue is rather with diesel, which is reported to have run out. The non-functioning of the generators has caused the high court to institute virtual case hearings.
In a statement on Tuesday, department spokesperson Thamsanqa Mchunu said there was no truth to reports that the generators were at fault in the matter.
"We wish to provide context on the directive given by Deputy Judge President Sutherland on Thursday, January 12, 2023. We are unable to comment on other matters raised, but we would like to indicate that the generators that have been provided by the DPWI are reliable, and they work accordingly,“ Mchunu said.
“The generators that are currently there are adequate, and the only problem that arises is the issue of fuel. Regarding the issue at the Johannesburg High Court, DPWI was only informed of the problem on Friday, January 13, 2023, that the fuel was low. There was nothing that the department could do about that, as client departments are responsible for buying consumables and ensuring that generators do not run out of fuel. We as the department are responsible for the installation, maintenance, and fixing of generators.”
Media reports said the court had been closed "indefinitely with immediate effect" due to the Eskom power crisis, after the office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) and the public works department failed to provide it with a reliable backup power source.
Mchunu said generators may heat up and become inadequate due to the long periods that they are expected to run during different stages of load-shedding. The DPWI is now advising clients to consider other sources of energy, such as solar power, as a backup to generators. These interventions would lessen the risk of overheating generators and excessive fuel costs.
"In this case of the Johannesburg High Court, the client failed to procure diesel timeously. In the meantime, the DPWI has placed a technician on site so they may deal with any issues that may arise with the generators as quickly as possible,“ he said.
"We also suggest that our client have a dedicated team to keep a close eye on the availability and procurement of fuel stock. All other requests for generators in courts are always implemented, and we are not aware of any generator problems elsewhere.“
The Star