At least eight law firms in South Africa, along with political parties and civil society organizations, are suing the South African government and state-owned electricity company Eskom over the energy crisis, the South African press reported today.

According to several South African media outlets, the parties have given the government an ultimatum to respond by Friday to their demands, presented in writing in a letter sent to the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordham, and Eskom's outgoing CEO, André de Ruyter.

The group, which has the support of the opposition United Democratic Movement (UDM) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) parties and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), one of the country's main trade union organizations, is demanding the "stabilization of the electricity supply", claiming that "Eskom, as an organ of the state, is violating its constitutional duties".

According to the lawyers, the South African state "failed" to manage the electricity grid responsibly, resulting in "material violations of citizens' constitutional rights".

"If we are forced to initiate proceedings, which we hope to avoid, the documents will be presented on January 23, 2023," said the lawyers quoted by the South African press, cited by Lusa.

"It cannot be disputed that the state, represented by the Department of Public Enterprises and Eskom, has not taken any reasonable steps to provide vulnerable South Africans with adequate and reliable energy, be it electricity or any other alternative form of energy," they pointed out.

"The ruling African National Congress [ANC] needs to swallow its pride and listen to the demands of the people," said UDM leader Bantu Holomisa.

South Africans currently face at least 12 hours without electricity a day, due to the worsening of constant blackouts that are interspersed unpredictably and last between two and a half and four hours.

The precarious situation of the state-owned company, the indebted Eskom, which was once the most efficient in the world, accounting for 90% of the country's coal production, is said to be at the root of the long-term electricity crisis in Africa's most developed economy.

Eskom bought another 50 million liters of diesel on January 6, 2023 to power the coal-fired power stations, according to the South African press.

The current energy crisis in South Africa, which has worsened since the beginning of this year, is affecting companies in the country, which are threatening to start mass layoffs; the functioning of essential services such as hospitals, sanitation and water supply; banking services, security systems, and the food security sector in the country.

The constant power cuts are also damaging municipal power infrastructures, which are also facing rampant theft of power cables, according to the municipality of Tshwane (formerly Pretoria), the country's capital.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has canceled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos in order to manage the crisis related to the worsening power blackouts in the country, his spokesman Vincent Magwenya announced.