By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Power utility Eskom says, it is gradually returning its generating units to service, and with sufficient emergency reserves, load shedding will remain at Stage 3 from 16:00 today (Wednesday 14 February) until further notice.
Eskom had previously communicated that Stage 4 load shedding would be implemented at 16:00 today.
The utility added that its power station managers will continue to work around the clock to return more generating units to service and improve the available capacity.
The evening peak demand for tonight is anticipated to be around 26,701MW. Eskom noted it would communicate should any significant changes occur
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 SALGA’s KZN chair Thami Ntuli said the statement on load shedding by ANC MP Sylvia Lucas is insensitive as the power cuts have resulted in job losses, left many households poorer and sparked service delivery protests at various municipalities across the country.
Lucas told MPs during the debate on the State of the Nation Address on Tuesday that the planned power cuts are “not the end of the world”.
Shortly after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address on Thursday, the country was once again plunged into stage 6 load shedding.
The planned power cuts have since been eased to stages 3 and 4.
The South African Local Government Association addressed the media on Wednesday on the scourge of political killings in KZN ahead of this yea’’s elections.
“It was so depressing to hear honourable MP Sylvia Lucas telling parliament yesterday that load shedding is ‘not the end of the world’. That statement was insensitive,” Ntuli said.
“Some businesses are unable to pay their dues to municipalities because of load shedding, which has left them financially limping. Some businesses have even closed shop because of load shedding. During load shedding, water pumps and reservoirs stop working, and that affects our citizens. In some painful cases, patients are turned back by health centres because there is no power or water to operate.”
“Load shedding is impacting municipal operations in profound ways. It has forced municipalities to take extreme measures to keep wastewater plants and water purification plants running and prevent water contamination.”
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says despite “obstacles, uncertainties and temporary setbacks”, the end of load shedding is in sight.
He was addressing the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate held at the Cape Town City Hall on Tuesday.
Ramakgopa explained the steps government, in cooperation with Eskom, has taken to urgently address the energy challenge in the country including returning units to service on time or earlier and bolstering new generation capacity.