Ramokgopa apologises for latest round of loadshedding
The Electricity Minister has said sorry for the intense rolling blackouts.
"When you get to this level of intensity, the amount and the level of disruption to businesses and just ordinary people is extreme."
That's why we want to convey the apology. But we continue to work with the team at Eskom to make sure we improve the situation."
Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and Eskom officials held a briefing on Friday after the power utility turned the loadshedding dial up to six earlier this afternoon, citing the failure of five generating units.
We're going to stay in the higher stage until Monday morning.
Eskom says it suspects the heatwave has contributed to the situation.
Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo, says there's been an unexpected significant increase in demand.
"Apart from the reserves, what we have noticed today [is that] the demand just went up compared to yesterday. It's continuously above 1 500 MW [ increase in demand] because if I look at the units that we have lost between today and yesterday, the only unit that came down is the Duva Unit 4, Majuba Unit 3 and Lethabo Unit 6.
"I concur with the Minister that where we are with the total losses shouldn’t have resulted in Stage 6 of load shedding."
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