For the first time since September, stage six load-shedding will be implemented because of maintenance challenges and breakdowns experienced at Eskom’s power-generating infrastructure.
The power utility announced just before noon that stage six would be implemented at midnight tonight.
It said this was due to a high number of breakdowns since midnight, as well as the requirement to strictly preserve the remaining emergency generation reserves.
Spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said the decision was taken because of a “high number of breakdowns since midnight”.
Diminished output capacity, he added, meant that available generating units had to be managed to preserve the pressurised grid.
Stage six requires rolling blackouts of six to eight hours cumulatively every day.
While it was reported earlier this week that the country’s growing GDP figures could feed into continued economic optimism into the New Year, load-shedding late in the year usually causes drag on growth.
