Eskom announces Stage 2 load shedding: What you need to know from Tuesday afternoon

Eskom announced it would be implementing Stage 2 load shedding during evening peak periods from Tuesday from 4pm to 10pm until Thursday. 

The power utility said this was necessary in order to manage the limited generation capacity and sure a continued supply during the working days. 

“This decision follows the delayed return of generation units amounting to 3,120MW, as well as an additional loss of 1,385MW in the past 24 hours due to unplanned breakdowns.

The primary reason for this setback is the delay in returning several units from planned maintenance. These delays, coupled with an unplanned capacity loss that has now temporarily exceeded 13,000MW, align with the risk scenarios shared in our Winter 2025 Outlook,” Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said. 

Eskom said its currently emerging from an intensive maintenance cycle, which is essential for long-term reliability but temporarily reduces system flexibility and resilience. As a result, the grid is more sensitive to unexpected disruptions.

“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this causes. Eskom remains firmly committed to supplying electricity reliably. Our teams continue to work with determination and professionalism to stabilise and strengthen the system as a result of the structural improvements across the generation fleet. Load shedding incidents have significantly decreased when compared to previous years,” Mokwena said. 

Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane said the recent setbacks impacted its operational performance and have been acknowledged in their Winter Outlook, along with a clear recovery plan.

“Our new Operational Excellence Programme is key to restoring performance. We are reinforcing oversight, strengthening accountability, and aligning service providers with stricter performance standards. This forms part of our broader drive for consistent improvement through Systems, People, and Processes,” Marokane said. 

“We are determined to build on the progress already achieved. The delays in returning units are being addressed with urgency by senior leadership,” he said. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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