Stage 2 and 3 load shedding until Monday – here’s the schedule

South Africans are now set to spend the weekend, or at least part of it, in the dark, as Eskom is continuing with the implementation of various stages of load shedding at least until Monday morning.

The embattled power utility had initially planned on enforcing stage 2 of the rolling blackouts for an eight-hour period – from 16:00 until 00:00, between Monday and Wednesday, however breakdowns at five of its power stations, prompted the escalation to stage 4.

After some level of improvement, stage 3 load shedding will be suspended on Friday, 21 October 2022 – for several hours. The rolling blackouts will kick in again at 16:00 until Saturday morning at 05:00.

“Stage 3 loadshedding will continue to be implemented until 05:00 on Friday morning. Loadshedding will then be suspended for the day. Stage 3 loadshedding will again be implemented starting from 16:00 on Friday until 05:00 Saturday morning,” said Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha.

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LOAD SHEDDING TO CONTINUE INDEFINITELY

While the rolling blackouts are expected to continue until Monday morning, if history has taught us anything, all that could change. Eskom says it will inform the public, should there be any significant changes to the power situation.

“Breakdowns of five generating units overnight, two of which have returned to service, have exacerbated current generation capacity shortages, forcing the escalation of loadshedding. Since this morning a generation unit each at Arnot and Kriel power stations have been returned to service. Two generation units at Kendal and one at Kusile power stations were taken offline for repairs. We currently have 5 146MW on planned maintenance, while another 16 434MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns. Loadshedding is implemented only as a last resort in view of the shortage of generation capacity and the need to attend to breakdowns”

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha

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