South Africans should once again brace themselves for load shedding, with Eskom saying the colder weather is expected to increase electricity demand over the next few days.
Eskom will implement stage 2 load shedding from 16:00 on Sunday until 16:00 on Monday. Thereafter, stage 3 load shedding will be implemented from 16:00 until 05:00 on Tuesday, followed by stage 2 load shedding until 16:00. Spokesperson, Daphne Mokoena says this pattern will be repeated daily until further notice.
Load shedding has become an unfortunate reality for South Africans, as the struggling state-owned power utility battles to meet the country’s electricity demands. The combination of aging infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and financial constraints has resulted in frequent power outages that have a significant impact on the daily lives of citizens and the economy.
Eskom, which provides approximately 95% of South Africa’s electricity, has been grappling with numerous challenges over the years. The power utility has faced allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and inefficiency. These issues have contributed to the current state of affairs, where load shedding has become a regular occurrence.
According to Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokoena, the current breakdowns and planned maintenance have resulted in a significant reduction in generating capacity. “Breakdowns are currently at 16,150MW of generating capacity while the capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 5,950MW,” said Mokoena.
She also mentioned that several generation units at different power stations have been taken offline for repairs, further contributing to the strain on the power system.
South Africans have been urged to prepare for the upcoming load-shedding schedules and to find ways to minimize their reliance on electricity during these periods. This may include using alternative sources of energy, such as gas or solar power, and being mindful of their energy consumption.
Eskom will closely monitor the power system and communicate any changes to load shedding should it be required. The power utility is working towards resolving the issues that have plagued it for years, but it will take time to fully address the challenges and ensure a stable supply of electricity.
