CapeTown – Eskom has warned that it could ramp up load shedding to stage five or higher due to protests at nine of its power stations and other operating facilities.
According to The Citizen, Eskom said this during a media briefing on Friday “on the current system challenges, which have resulted in load shedding”.
The power utility said earlier in statement, that some of its employees had embarked on unprotected strike action following a deadlock in wage negotiations on Tuesday.
“These protests included incidents of intimidation of working employees and blockading of roads leading to power stations and other facilities, inhibiting the free flow of personnel and commodities required for the generation of electricity and smooth operations.
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“The increased unavailability of plant has necessitated an extensive usage of emergency generation reserves, which are depleting faster than can be replenished,” said Eskom.
It cautioned that should these criminal acts of intimidation persist or spread, this would result in the implementation of load shedding at higher stages.
Eskom announced on Friday morning that load shedding will be implemented at stage 4 from 11:00 until midnight on Friday.
On Saturday and Sunday, stage 4 load shedding will be implemented from 05:00until midnight.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
