Eskom Announces Stages 3 And 4 Of Load-Shedding Until Further Notice

Eskom has shared a new timetable for South Africans, announcing that the load-shedding will drop to Stage 3 on Monday and Stage 4 on Tuesday.

"On Monday, Stage 3 load shedding will be implemented from 05:00 until 16:00, while Stage 4 load shedding will be implemented from 16:00 to 05:00 on Tuesday," Eskom said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Eskom, which is responsible for providing electricity throughout the country, further disclosed that the Stage 3 and Stage 4 pattern will continue daily until further notice. They added, "Eskom will publish a further update as soon as any significant changes occur."

"Breakdowns are currently at 15 148MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance has increased to 7 417MW ahead of the winter period," the company shared. "Over the past 24 hours, four generation units were returned to service at Kriel, Matimba, Matla and Tutuka power stations."

Eskom also disclosed that within 24 hours, a generating unit each at Duvha, Hendrina and Kriel power stations went offline for repair purposes.

They further shared the reason behind the current electricity capacity constraints in the country, noting that it is happening due to "delays in returning a unit to service at Duvha and Tutuka power stations."

"We thank all South Africans who continue using electricity sparingly and efficiently in helping to alleviate the pressure on the power system," they concluded.

South Africa has been facing Stage 4 load-shedding since March 31 evening.

The electricity minister Kgosientso Ramokgopa previously claimed that the load-shedding issue is a technical problem and has nothing to do with "so-called corruption." The minister's claim came during his visit to 14 power stations across the country.

Ramokgopa began his tour with Kriel and Duvha power stations and later visited Kusile and Kendal. He also toured Tutuka, Camden, Lethabo, Ankerlig and Koeberg power stations.

During his last visit to Koeberg Power Station in Western Cape last week, Ramokgopa advised citizens to switch off geysers to help cut load-shedding stages while he also assured South Africans that they won't see any higher stages of load shedding.

While Ramokgopa claimed there is no corruption, the trade union blamed the government, President Cyril Ramaphosa and energy company Eskom for not being able to fulfill the electricity requirements in the country.

NUMSA's spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said last week, referring to the 1998 White Paper on the Energy Policy, which clearly stated that "Eskom's present generation capacity surplus will be fully utilized by about 2007" and "timely steps will have to be taken to ensure that demand does not exceed available supply capacity and that appropriate strategies, including those with long lead times, are implemented in time."

Hlubi-Majola noted that the officials have failed to implement the changes and now everyone in the country is suffering. As per Council for Scientific and Industrial Research report, South Africa witnessed the most intensive load shedding last year, noting that December 2022 was the highest.