Eskom announces slight load shedding reprieve for weekend

Eskom said that load shedding will be reduced to stage 3 and stage 4 on Saturday and Sunday due to lower demand over the weekend.

The power utility said the return to service of some generating units also led to the slight reduction in load shedding stages.

“Breakdowns are currently at 17 245MW of generating capacity, while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 4 468MW,” Eskom said.

Stage 3 and 4 load shedding

Although stage 5 will be in place until 5am on Saturday morning, stage 3 will be implemented until 4pm.

South Africans will then have to endure stage 4 blackouts until 5am on Sunday.

Stage 3 will then return until 4pm on Sunday, and stage 4 will be implemented again until 4pm on Monday.

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Stage 5 will then be in place during Monday evening.

Generating units break down

In a statement, Eskom said a generating unit at each of Hendrina, Lethabo and Tutuka power stations had returned to service.

Others, however, suffered breakdowns.

“Over the past 24 hours a generating unit each at Camden, Kendal, Majuba, and two generating units at Duvha power stations were taken out of service due to breakdowns,” it said.

The power utility added that the delay in returning units to service at the Arnot, Camden, Hendrina, Kendal and Matla power stations was also contributing to the electricity constraints.

“The team is working around the clock to ensure that generating units are retuned to service as soon as possible,” Eskom said.

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