South Africans react to Stage 6 load shedding

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Eskom has implemented Stage 6 load shedding in the early hours of Sunday just hours after announcing Stage 3 at short notice.

This is the second bout of load shedding in less than a month and the power utility said the blackouts were caused by multiple unit trips,

“Eskom regrets to announce that Stage 6 loadshedding was implemented at 1:30am due to multiple unit trips at Camden Power Station and will continue until further notice,” the power utility said in a statement.

“This measure followed the implementation of Stage 3, necessitated by multiple unit trips at Majuba Power Station and a unit trip at Medupi that resulted in a loss of 3 864 MW in generation capacity, while planned maintenance accounted for 7 506 MW. Additionally to replenish emergency reserves and prepare for the week ahead, Stage 6 loadshedding was essential.

Eskom escalates from Stage 3 to Stage 6 load shedding within hours

A media briefing will be held today at 11:00 to provide more details and updates on the power system,” the statement read.

Many South Africans woke up to the news that Eskom has escalated load shedding to Stage 6.

@Gary8035 wrote: “So Eskom hits us with stage 6. People with brains think of a way of how to get electricity so we get solar. Eskom knocks at your door saying it is illegal and you must pay to register. They don’t fix their problems, they nail the people who have made a plan. Useless fools.”

@Azania1023 wrote: “The Minister of Electricity guaranteed SAns many time that even if we can have load shedding but it will never again go beyond stage 4. Today we are on stage 6.”

Eskom has implemented Stage 6 load shedding until further notice but many fear it could get worse. With winter just a few weeks away, many South Africans expect load shedding to be the order of the day.