Brace yourself for Stage 2 load shedding after all
This weekend, a heatwave is set to reach Gauteng, and the Springboks are playing against Japan in a crucial Rugby World Cup semi-final match.
Eskom announced on Friday morning that it was moving back to Stage 2 load shedding.
This is despite season Thursday night that Stage 1 would be implemented for Friday and the weekend.
In a new statement, the power utility said overnight developments led to the move.
ALSO READ: Find your load shedding schedules here
#POWERALERT 1
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) October 18, 2019
Date: 18 October 2019
Stage 2 loadshedding to be maintained for a greater part of today @SABCNewsOnline @News24 @SAgovnews @ewnupdates @Moneyweb @IOL @eNCA @SowetanLIVE @Fin24 @BDliveSA @BusinessLiveSA @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/4H5tPeCiBu
Eskom's Dikatso Mothae says they will only know later on Friday what the load shedding situation for the weekend will be.
This weekend, a heatwave is set to reach Gauteng, and the Springboks are playing against Japan in a crucial Rugby World Cup semi-final match.
"We did talk about that. Obviously we would certainly want to ensure that South Africans are able to watch the rugby without load shedding," says Mothae.
She notes that while electricity usage is generally less over weekends, air conditions add significantly to the strain placed on the grid and asks that consumers set their air conditioners to 23 degrees.
On Thursday, Eskom acting CEO and chairperson, Jabu Mabuza said: "We can never say there will be no load shedding.”
ALSO READ: ‘We can never say there will be no load shedding’ - Eskom
He was responding to reports that Eskom supposedly issued a guarantee in September South Africa would not see rolling blackouts in that month or October.