By: Natasha Archary
Further breakdowns at Eskom’s Kendal and Lethabo power stations has meant an escalation of loadshedding to Stage 4 until further notice.
The embattled power utility announced on Tuesday afternoon that it has no other choice but to push loadshedding from Stage 3 to Stage 4.
Eskom says a full statement will be issued on Wednesday afternoon but stated that Stage 4 will be in place until further notice.
South Africans have experienced the worst loadshedding period this year, with 3 consecutive months of rolling blackouts throughout winter.
In a new record, Eskom plunged the country into darkness yet again earlier this month, claiming breakdown after breakdown was putting a strain on generation capacity.
Meanwhile Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter says loadshedding should start to ease within the next 10 days, when big generation units are expected to return to service.
He says the state-owned entity is buying power from Zambia and looking to add more megawatts from Mozambique as well.
However, South Africa supplies electricity to several of its neighbouring countries, including Zimbabwe, Lesotho, eSwatini, Namibia, Botswana. Mozambique and Zambia.
De Ruyter’s statement did not go down well with several South African taxpayers who questioned how the seven countries it supplies with power isn’t affected by blackouts, when South Africa does.
To add further fuel to the fires at Eskom, the new Chairman of the board, Mpho Makwana’s first statement was in favour of Andre de Ruyter.
Makwana said de Ruyter should be applauded because his heart’s in the right place.
There are no plans to make any changes to the management at Eskom according to Makwana.
Also read: Stage 2 water restrictions hits parts of Joburg and Tshwane
