By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Eskom announced that load-shedding would be suspended from 9pm on Sunday.
The power utility implemented stage 2 load shedding on Wednesday due to a combination of factors, including low dam and diesel levels and unplanned trips of several units at power stations, combined with other units being out for planned maintenance.
The stage 2 was initially expected to last until 05:00 on Monday morning. On Friday Eskom announced on Friday evening that it was dropping to stage 1 until Monday morning thanks in part to a return to service of a generating unit at Kusile, and a recovery of emergency power supplies.
The power utility tweeted that it was pleased to announce that load-shedding would be suspended due to sufficient recovery in generation capacity.
Eskom is pleased to announce that #Loadshedding will be suspended from 21:00 tonight due to sufficient recovery in generation capacity. A statement will follow shortly.
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) February 6, 2022
Meanwhile, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said that the City of Cape Town will have to take matters into their own hands if they wish to halt the damage caused by Eskom’s “monopoly over generation”.
In the next two weeks, the City will publish documents detailing its upcoming procurement of power from independent power producers (IPPs).
“The only way for us to provide reliable and affordable electricity to our residents is to source it from elsewhere,” said Hill-Lewis.