Staff Reporter.
Stage 4 load shedding was implemented at 16:00 on Thursday, Eskom said in a statement on on Thursday evening.
It had previously been communicated that Stage 3 would be implemented until 16:00 on Friday.
“Eskom confirms that Stage 4 load shedding was implemented at 16:00 today and will continue until 05:00 on Friday. This will be followed by Stage 3 load shedding from 05:00 until 16:00 on Friday.
Eskom will communicate further on Friday afternoon or should any significant changes occur,” the power utility said.
Given the sudden changes made to load shedding schedules over the past few weeks, South Africans should expect more changes as they happen.
For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.
Smartphone users can also download the app EskomSePush to receive push notifications when load shedding is implemented, as well as the times the area you are in will be off.
Meanwhile the Hawks in Mpumalanga have arrested two suspects for fraud and theft of Eskom valves worth more than R1 million in Middelburg.
The accused are the Director of Dibuseng Business Enterprise Dony Mmathinyane (31), and 55-year-old Maphoto Mokgadi.
The pair appeared in the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, and were released on R20 000 bail and R10 000 respectively.
It is understood that in 2020 the two allegedly stole Eskom valves from Arnot Power Station purchased in 2017 and sold them to Tutuka power station for R1 million.
“Investigation revealed that the valves delivered by Dibuseng Business Enterprise are the same valves delivered by DLC 56 project and Grant connection during 2017 and 2020, at Arnot Power Station,” said Hawks spokesperson Lucy Sekgotodi
“Arnot Power Station confirmed that those valves were stolen from them during the year 2020.
“The delivery documents submitted by Dibuseng were the same documents/certificates issued by Billfinger to the two companies. Dibuseng fraudulently changed the name of those suppliers to his own business name. On the documents there was information of Mokgadi as the person who assisted Dibuseng Business Enterprise to be in possession of the stolen valves.”
The case was postponed to 20 February for a first appearance in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.