Loadshedding
Good news for South Africans: Load shedding to ease up for the week ahead!
Eskom has announced that load shedding will be eased for the week ahead as there has been a slight improvement in available generation capacity. However, as planned, Eskom will still implement stage 4 load shedding from 16h00 this afternoon and run until 05h00 on Monday. From 05h00 to 16h00, stage 3 load shedding will begin, and this pattern will continue until further notice, with stage 4 load shedding overnight and stage 3 during the day.
According to BusinessTech, if load shedding schedules continue as planned, it will end one of the longest streaks of stage 6 load shedding experienced this year. Nevertheless, the grid remains under severe strain, and the situation could change with little notice, as has been the case for 2023. As Eskom continues to struggle with its unpredictable systems, the government is under scrutiny to resolve the crisis, with few options remaining.
The electricity minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, is under scrutiny for delivering on his mandate to end load shedding after the ruling party and various subcommittees supported his ideas to extend the life of Eskom’s coal power stations. However, the minister cannot execute these plans, leaving them limbo.
Meanwhile, the time has effectively run out for Eskom to stabilise the country’s grid ahead of the coming winter, with multiple warnings that load shedding will only worsen. Ramokgopa has also dashed hopes for a resolution to the crisis this year, saying no end is in sight. Economists at Nedbank have expressed the same sentiment, saying this week that slow progress at Eskom and apparent political infighting between those in charge of Eksom means that load shedding will likely stick around for the next three to five years.
Eskom has published them on loadshedding.eskom.co.za for access to load shedding schedules. In addition, smartphone users can download the EskomSePush app to receive push notifications when load shedding starts and when their area will be affected. If you live in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available on the respective websites of the cities of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, eThekwini, Manguang, and Buffalo City.
Also read:
Private producer prevented from reducing load shedding by Eskom
