Pretoria – Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality has been ordered by the High Court, Pretoria, to restore electricity supply to all schools that were cut off due to non-payment of property rates.
The court made the ruling on Tuesday, 5 May 2026
The City of Tshwane cut off electricity supplies to several schools last week to compel them to pay outstanding property rates.
However, Laerskool Wierdapark and AfriForum approached the court with an urgent application to demand the restoration of power.
This matter was heard in the urgent court, which ruled in the applicants’ favour and ordered the City of Tshwane to restore electricity supplies to affected schools.
Commenting on the matter, AfriForum said it, “Welcomes the court order that instructs the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality to restore the electricity supply of all schools that were cut off due to non-payment of their property rates”.
AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, Alana Bailey, stated that the schools’ electricity bills have been paid in full; in fact, some have even paid in advance.
Bailey explained that the bills for services such as electricity and water supply are the responsibility of the schools’ governing bodies.
“However, the property rates must be paid by the authorities, which currently does not seem to be happening in the Tshwane Metro,” said Bailey.
AfriForum had won a similar case against this metro in 2009 and was therefore ready to defend schools’ access to services for which they pay once again.
“It is unfair that learners’ and staff’s rights to have access to quality education, safety, and even the provision of their basic needs are being violated due to the authorities’ maladministration,” Bailey said.
‘At the affected schools, teaching could not take place as usual. Systems that should protect safety on the premises were not working.
Feeding schemes that should provide hot meals to the most vulnerable children could not continue, while supplies in refrigerators spoiled.
“Where schools have generators, only the most essential services could be provided, and this at an extremely high cost due to the current diesel price.
“Even this limited supply of electricity was therefore not sustainable.”
Bailey said AfriForum was grateful for the speedy relief that the court order provides to the affected schools.
Bailey said AfriForum trusts that, following this ruling, the Metro will consult with the relevant authorities in the future, “instead of trying to hold schools accountable for outstanding debts that they are not responsible for”.
“Not only does this punish the innocent, but it also jeopardises learners’ right to quality education and safety, which is completely unacceptable,”
“The cost order issued to the Metro is also welcomed and confirms the unlawful nature of its actions.”
