By: Natasha Archary
The excuses from power utility Eskom continue as South Africa experiences the 45th consecutive day of loadshedding.
With the state-owned entity once again pushing the country into Stage 4 on Sunday, 10 July, Eskom heavyweights held a media briefing on Monday to highlight further capacity inefficiencies.
Due to the further loss of five generation units over the past 36-hours, loadshedding will now continue for the rest of the week.
#POWERALERT1
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) July 9, 2022
Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented on Sunday afternoon, with varying stages of loadshedding implemented during the week. pic.twitter.com/tQB70UlK3J
Using the “unlawful strikes” by employees throughout June as the reason for the extensive rolling blackouts that have gripped the country, Eskom continues to give South Africans excuses as to why loadshedding persists.
From a backlog in maintenance to returning employees gradually coming back to operating duties, the excuses over the power crisis in the country is wearing thin.
Stage 6 loadshedding costs the country R4 billion a day, and loadshedding is the worse it’s been under CEO Andre de Ruyter.
The per day costs of loadshedding are estimated to cost around R950 million, crippling the economy with small business buckling under the strain.
Another week of rolling blackouts between Stage 4 and Stage 6 could climb to another R20 billion in revenue lost.
Despite the endless excuses, President Cyril Ramaphosa has remained mum on the issue, and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan continues to blame State Capture as the reason for Eskom’s failures.
If loadshedding continues experts predict half a million jobs will be lost. Stages 2 and 4 continue all week.
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