Lockdown won’t affect coal supply, vows Eskom
Eskom says it started preparing for the possibility of a local lockdown when it realised the speed at which coronavirus infections were spreading in other countries.
The power utility’s spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha says permits have been secured for workers and coal supply contractors to be able to continue working during the 21-day lockdown.
“Eskom is critical and essential service supplier, so electricity provision is exactly that. We have secured permits for our employees to be able to move around and go to work including contractors who produce coal in the mines and the people who transport it.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a three-week lockdown from Friday in an effort to curb the rapid spread of coronavirus.
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SA to go into lock-down from Thursday night
This is meant to curb the spread of coronavirus. On Monday, the number of people infected in the country reached 402 and is expected to rise. "From midnight, on Thursday 26th March until midnight Thursday the 16th of April, all South Africans will have to stay at home.
Ramaphosa said only those providing essential services will be exempted from the nationwide lockdown.
Mantshantsha has given an assurance that measures have been put in place and Eskom does not foresee any interruption to electricity supply due to the lockdown.