Cape Town – The Presidency says the government is working closely with Eskom to fast track the repair of units that have resulted in Stage 6 load shedding in recent days.
Eskom implemented stage 6 load shedding from Sunday, 7 May, “until further notice”.
The power utility said this was due to the failure of additional generating units and the delay in returning several units to service.
“This is anticipated to persist throughout the week. Eskom will publish a further update as soon as any significant changes occur,” it said.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday that intense work was under way at Eskom to increase the utility’s energy availability factor.
In addition, Ntshavheni said Eskom was currently maximising the use of open cycle gas turbines, securing additional generation capacity from private investment in renewables and scaling up awareness to improve demand-side management from large electricity users and households.
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“Acts of sabotage continue to plague Eskom’s infrastructure and, therefore, the continued deployment of 880 SANDF [South African National Defence Force] members to safeguard a number of Eskom power stations is part of measures to prevent attempts to collapse the national grid,” the Minister said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently authorised the deployment of the SANDF members to safeguard a number of Eskom power stations around the country to the tune of R146 million.
The soldiers will work with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to prevent and combat crime and maintain and preserve law and order under Operation Prosper.
Meanwhile, Cabinet said it welcomed the decision to appeal the recent North Gauteng High Court ruling that instructed Eskom to exempt public institutions from load shedding based on the implications of this judgement.
This came after the high court found that load shedding constituted an infringement of constitutional rights and gave the minister of public Enterprises 60 days to ensure that public health facilities, schools and police stations were exempted from power outages or provide generators.
The Department of Public Enterprises on Monday said it was lodging an urgent appeal to set aside last Friday‘s judgment on load shedding.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
