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The urgent court application with which AfriForum and Laerskool Wierdapark succeeded in the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday (5 May 2026) stipulates that the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality immediately has to restore the power supply to all schools whose power had been cut due to non-payment of property rates. In addition, it stipulates that no other schools may have their power cut for this reason and that schools that have been affected by this may claim damages from the Tshwane Metro.

The case was filed after several schools in the metropolitan area were literally left in the dark, despite their electricity bills being paid in full. However, their property taxes, which are the responsibility of the provincial authorities, are in arrears. The Tshwane Metro was therefore punishing the innocent parties, namely schools and vulnerable learners, for maladministration in which they had no part.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, it is commendable that school governing bodies are courageous enough to address unpleasant situations like this with legal action. Thanks to one governing body’s forceful action, this court order ensures the protection of all schools in the metropolitan area.

“AfriForum therefore encourages the governing bodies of all other schools whose power is still cut off due to the property tax issue to contact us urgently. We know of at least one school that is still without electricity and therefore now urge the Tshwane Metro to restore it without delay or face a charge of contempt of court,” she says.

AfriForum also encourages all schools that have suffered damages due to this issue to quantify the costs and submit claims to the Metro accordingly. This includes the cost of diesel for generators. In addition, the governing bodies are requested to keep AfriForum informed of the progress in this regard. “We want to ensure that the innocent victims of this dispute between the province and the Metro are properly compensated for their losses. If any aspect of the court order is disregarded, AfriForum is ready to assist the schools again,” Bailey concludes.

Issued by AfriForum