Following  four days of load shedding after boiler leaks at six generating units and the breakdown of a conveyor belt transporting coal to Medupi power station, President Cyril Ramaphosa promised significant moves to address South Africa’s energy woes, including the restructuring of Eskom into three entities.

“Our citizens deserve to be able to conduct their lives, go to school and operate their businesses confident that they will not be plunged into darkness without warning. At the same time, as citizens, we must understand that when we do not pay, we are part of the problem,” Ramaphosa said in his weekly newsletter.

“Eskom is owed huge amounts of money by individual users. This is the time for a frank discussion on the payment of owed money to Eskom by individual users. The culture of non-payment exists in several parts of the country. Boycotting payment for services had a place in apartheid South Africa. It was an effective tool to mobilise communities against an unjust system. But it has no place in present day South Africa. If public utilities like Eskom are to survive, then all users need to pay for the services they receive.”

Ramaphosa said that load shedding “contributes to investor unease at a time when we are trying to attract more domestic and foreign capital to South Africa and to improve our global rankings on ease of doing business”.

“It is also understandable that South Africans became frustrated and angry. This latest round of load-shedding makes even clearer the urgency with which we must act to protect our energy supply,” he said.

Despite a constrained and vulnerable power system, no loadshedding is expected on Monday and the probability of further power cuts remains low for the rest of the week, says Eskom.

Although the system remains constrained and vulnerable, improvements have been made as several units returned to service from planned and unplanned maintenance, Eskom said in a statement on Sunday evening.

“In addition, Eskom has had an opportunity to replenish diesel reserves for the open cycle gas turbines and to increase water levels at its pumped storage schemes in preparation for the week ahead. These reserves enable us to avoid and/or minimise the extent of load shedding,” the power utility said.

“The power system is constrained and while we are making every effort to avoid load shedding, it could be implemented at short notice should there be a significant shift in plant performance and increased unplanned technical breakdowns.”

Eskom said that it will continue to keep South Africans informed about the status of the electricity system and its recovery efforts.

“As we are experiencing a heat wave in some parts of the country, we ask that you use your air conditioners efficiently at 23ºC,” it added.

“Eskom would like to thank customers for their support in reducing demand by using electricity sparingly and industrial customers for their participation in load curtailment, when necessary. In addition we extend our gratitude to Eskom employees for their hard work and dedication over this difficult period and for sacrificing valuable time with their families.”

Customers are encouraged to continue to use electricity sparingly.