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DA Sounds Alarm: Eskom’s Power Failures Prove SA Needs Alternatives
South Africa was hit by widespread power outages on Sunday as Eskom abruptly reinstated Stage 6 load shedding, citing multiple unit breakdowns at three coal-fired power stations.
The return of severe electricity blackouts came as a surprise, following Eskom’s recent claims of progress in stabilizing the grid. Earlier this year, the utility had pointed to a dramatic improvement in performance between April 2024 and February 2025, raising hopes that years of crippling power cuts—sometimes lasting up to 12 hours a day—were coming to an end.
Also Read: Eskom Escalates Load Shedding to Stage 6 Amid Power Station Failures
However, Eskom’s latest statement confirmed that rationing would continue “until further notice”, forcing the country back to Stage 6, which requires power cuts up to four hours at a time, 12 times over four days.
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Eskom CEO Dan Marokane, and senior officials publicly apologized for the crisis in a live press briefing. Ramokgopa ruled out sabotage and insisted that full power supply would be restored by the end of the week.
“A setback. Unacceptable. We understand your anger, your disappointment, your grievance. We will resolve this,” Ramokgopa assured.
He reiterated that Eskom’s long-term recovery plan—which includes infrastructure maintenance and new energy capacity—remains on track to end load shedding permanently.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), a key partner in the national unity government, reacted sharply, saying the crisis proves South Africa cannot rely solely on Eskom for electricity. The party renewed calls for greater private sector involvement and the unbundling of Eskom to open the market for competition.
South Africa’s ongoing electricity woes continue to stifle economic growth and deter foreign investment, with Ramokgopa admitting that the latest disruptions were embarrassing, particularly as the country hosts G20 diplomats this week.
Eskom, which still supplies over 80% of South Africa’s power from coal-fired stations, remains burdened by massive debt, corruption, mismanagement, and infrastructure failures. While the government pushes for a transition to renewable energy, the immediate crisis remains unresolved.
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