South Africa's government says it will launch an urgent appeal against a court ruling that hospitals, schools and police stations be exempt from power cuts - or that they be provided with alternative sources of energy like generators.

The decision was taken to avoid "undue risk" to the national grid, at a time when the government was trying to end load shedding, Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan said in a statement on Twitter.

South Africa has been hit with power cuts lasting up to 10 hours, seriously disrupting the day-to-day lives of people and having a damaging effect on public services and businesses.

Following legal action brought by trade unions and opposition parties, a high court ordered the government last week to “take all reasonable steps” within 60 days to ensure that hospitals, schools and police stations are not affected by power cuts.

Analysts said the ruling would have huge financial costs for the government, and it would find it difficult to implement.

Source: BBC