Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has announced that ongoing Stage 2 load shedding will continue during evening peak periods due to delays in returning power generation units from maintenance and unexpected capacity losses.
Maintenance Delays and Unplanned Outages
Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria, Ramokgopa explained that Eskom’s planned maintenance backlog, coupled with unplanned breakdowns exceeding 13,000 megawatts, has forced the utility to implement rolling blackouts.
“We are experiencing short-term pain for long-term gain,” Ramokgopa said, referencing Eskom’s extensive maintenance program. The utility had aimed to reduce maintenance levels from 7,500–8,000 MW to below 5,000 MW by mid-May but has fallen short by approximately 3,100 MW due to delays in restoring key units.
Winter Outlook and Financial Commitments
The minister assured the public that Eskom is working to stabilize the grid ahead of winter, traditionally a high-demand period. He highlighted that R252 billion in government funding over three years has been allocated to refurbish aging power stations and improve long-term reliability.
“We needed to deploy these resources to ensure future uninterrupted supply,” Ramokgopa said, acknowledging Eskom’s failure to meet its no-load-shedding promise.
Eskom’s Response and Challenges
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane attributed the current Stage 2 load shedding (6-hour outages between 4 PM and 10 PM) to unplanned capacity losses and pledged to reduce maintenance levels further to 4,000 MW by mid-winter.
Marokane also addressed skills shortages, particularly in welding and technical maintenance, and confirmed engagements with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to expedite repairs.
Public Frustration and Accountability
The announcement follows public frustration over inconsistent load-shedding schedules. While Eskom has provided advance notice this week, businesses and households remain wary of sudden escalations.
What’s Next?
Eskom will daily reassess the grid’s status, with updates expected at midday. The utility remains under pressure to restore delayed units and avoid higher stages of load shedding as winter demand rises.
For now, South Africans must brace for evening power cuts while hoping for improved performance as maintenance efforts yield results.