Eskom warns of load shedding despite truce with unions

Eskom has warned of possible load shedding during evening peaks this weekend, despite reaching an agreement with unions to "normalise operations".

The power utility says this is due to the grid still being under pressure following disruptions on Thursday and Friday.

Three unions, The National Union of Metalworkers (Numsa), the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Solidarity declared a wage dispute after Eskom announced it could not afford wage increases.

But following the intervention of the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, parties agreed to return to the negotiating table with Eskom taking the 0% wage offer off the table.

Despite this, Eskom's Dikatso Mothae warns that the grid remains constrained despite a few generators that have come back online.

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The likelihood of load shedding is also due to an expected high demand during Saturday evening due to a cold front moving over the interior of South Africa.

"We appeal to our costumers to use electricity efficiently throughout the day, but most importantly over that evening peak between 17:00 and 20:00," explains Mothae.

Eskom expects the situation to normalise as the parties return to the negotiating table.