Residents warned to brace themselves for power failures
A total blackout has been predicted for next year, meaning that the entire country may be thrown into total darkness for many hours.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2014/12/large_Power_supply1.jpg)
MBOMBELA – Residents should brace themselves for more power outages this week, and in the future.
This was announced by Eskom CEO, Mr Tshediso Matona, during a press release on Monday. Journalists were notified that load-shedding would continue during peak hours, especially from 06:00 to 22:00.
Matona said even though they could manage load-shedding this week it would just be a temporary measure.
He explained that the energy supply was severely constrained and would remain so for some time until all suppliers had been fixed.
“Some of the incidents which have the capacity have had to do with human elements or were due to human failure, while the machines themselves give in due to age.
Human error sometimes causes these power failures which push us over the edge,” he said.
It is understood that Eskom needs more time to finish the Medupi and Kusile power stations to increase energy capacity. This parastatal also needs more money to be able to finish these projects and give old machines a facelift.
For this reason, Eskom is expected to increase its electricity tariffs sometime next year. A total blackout has been predicted for next year, meaning that the entire country may be thrown into total darkness for many hours.
In Johannesburg, load-shedding takes up to five hours and sometimes interruptions occur twice a day, whereas in the province the power is only switched off for two hours.