Power utility Eskom has announced that loadshedding will be significantly reduced to stages four and two this weekend.
On Friday afternoon, the utility reduced loadshedding to stage four which will continue until 5am on Saturday.
Stage two loadshedding will be implemented from 5am until 4pm on Saturday, followed by stage four until 5am on Sunday. This pattern will be repeated on Sunday, said the utility.
It said the change was due to generating units at Arnot, Grootvlei, Kendal and Majuba power stations returning to service.
“The anticipated return to service of a generating unit at Matla Power Station has been delayed, further contributing to the current capacity constraints. Eskom teams are working tirelessly to return these generating units to service,” said the utility.
Eskom said it would publish another update should any significant changes occur.
Loadshedding has been the country’s biggest economic bugbear for years. It has stalled the country’s potential for economic growth. It has also been a great source consternation among residents as blackouts expose them to criminal elements.
Recently, one of South Africa’s leading companies, Vodacom signed a virtual wheeling agreement with Eskom to end loadshedding.
In a statement the company said Vodacom will be able to access electricity from non-Eskom sources while still using Eskom’s transmission infrastructure and services.
The move will not only help ensure a reliable power supply for Vodacom’s network but will also reduce the direct strain on the country’s national grid. It will also help Vodacom reach its goal of getting all its power from renewable sources by 2025.
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