The Al Jama-ah party expressed concern that the scheduled power outages during Eid al-Fitr could have a severe impact on festivities. According to the party, over 16,000 people signed a petition for some relief from load shedding during preparations for Eid. The occasion marks the end of the holy month of Ramadaan and is celebrated by Muslims worldwide.
Shameemah Salie, a spokesperson for the party, stated that Eskom’s outages during Eid could be problematic, especially for small business owners. She noted that many people are already experiencing stress due to the inability to prepare for Eid meals and festivities. Moreover, bakers and individuals who rely on cooking as part of their small businesses have not been able to take orders.
To address the issue, the party intends to speak to Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Eskom officials on Friday. Additionally, the Muslim Judicial Council has written to the president and the minister of electricity with the same request. The hope is that the efforts of both parties will result in the uninterrupted celebration of Eid al-Fitr across the country.