Load shedding rollercoaster is not sabotage related

The retired coal-fired Komati Power Station, operated by Eskom, is seen near Komati village, in the Mpumalanga province. Source: Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

"Of the 10 units that we lost overnight, we have essentially returned six units," Eskom group CEO Dan Marokane told reporters on Sunday.

He said five to six units were expected to become operational during the course of the day, bolstering the 3,200MW of capacity recovered overnight.

Eskom posted profit, then brought back load shedding

Lindsey Schutters  31 Jan 2025

"We anticipate to get out of this stage by the end of the week," he said, adding that given the pace of recovery Eskom would consider dialling down its power cuts by Monday.

Some respite

On Monday morning, Eskom said the power outages would be reduced to Stage 4 until further notice.

Regular breakdowns at Eskom's fleet of ageing coal-fired plants, providing the bulk of electricity in Africa's most industrialised economy, are often the cause of load shedding - an incremental system where Stage 1 sees 1,000MW cut from the system, with Stage 6 the highest implemented to date.