By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Stage 4 load shedding will be implemented from 09:00 on Sunday morning until further notice, power utility Eskom announced.
The utility said details about the power situation would be published in due course.
Load shedding has been at stage 6 for almost an entire week – the longest stretch of such a high level since January.
However, Eskom also confirmed that over 7,000MW were removed from the grid at times, saying that load shedding hit stage 7.
Former Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga said the power utility technically implemented stage 8 load-shedding this week, as any cuts above 7,000MW are stage 8.
While businesses in South Africa still agree with the SARB’s notion that a total grid collapse is unlikely, the Bureau for Economic Research said the electricity situation in South Africa remains dire.
The National Energy Crisis Committee (Necom) announced last week that Eskom has ample diesel supplies for now – which is helping shield the country from up to two stages of load-shedding during peak hours.
Without the diesel-powered turbines, South Africa would already be at stage 8 or even up to stage 10 when you consider the power utility technically implemented stage 8 load-shedding this past week.
Meanwhile two ministers are implicated in an Eskom corruption investigation and have been reported to Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan, The City Press reported.
Former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter launched the intelligence-driven private investigation in 2022 using money from donations.
De Ruyter launched the private investigation because of the poor support from official law enforcement agencies.
According to the reports, the implicated cabinet members cover their tracks exceptionally well to avoid detection. They allegedly use trusted partners and distant family members to funnel the ill-gotten gains to themselves.
When Gordhan was asked about De Ruyter reporting the corrupt ministers to him, he did not deny that it happened.
Instead, he said he despised corruption and that the Eskom board must now investigate De Ruyter’s allegations.
These revelations follow an explosive interview where De Ruyter said Eskom is a feeding trough for the ANC.
He said there is knowledge and support for corruption at the highest levels of the ruling party and the government.
He said he approached a senior minister, which has now been revealed as Gordhan, about a high-level politician involved in sinister and potentially criminal activities at Eskom.
“The minister in question looked at a senior official and said, ‘I guess it was inevitable that it would come out anyway’. It suggests that it was not news,” De Ruyter said.
He explained that there is a connection between theft, sabotage, procurement irregularities, and local and national politics.
On Wednesday evening, shortly after interview aired, Eskom announcced that De Ruyter had left the power utility with immediate effect following a special board meeting.
“The Eskom Board and Group Chief Executive (GCE) Andrè de Ruyter have reached a mutual agreement to curtail his notice period to 28 February 2023,” Eskom said.
“The board further resolved that De Ruyter will not be required to serve the balance of his notice period but that he will be released from his position with immediate effect.”
On Friday, Eskom announced the appointment of Calib Cassim as Interim Group CEO with immediate effect. Cassim will lead the Eskom management team until further notice.