Eskom has slightly eased rolling blackouts.
Rolling powers cuts will remain on Stage Four effective until 22:00, on Friday evening.
Thereafter, blackouts will be reduced to Stage Two until 07:00 on Saturday morning.
However, Stage Four then makes a return – between 07:00 and 22:00 – on both Saturday and Sunday.
Eskom’s Sikonathi Mantshantsha says the small reprieve is due to lower than anticipated demand during the weekend.
He says they’re monitoring the system closely.
“We will communicate and implement any changes as may be necessary. Currently, there is 17 431MW of capacity that is unavailable due to breakdowns, while another 3 104MW is out on planned maintenance.”
In light of this ongoing energy crisis, the Green Connection says Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, should take accountability for the failing power utility.
The organisation’s comment follows a cabinet meeting earlier this week, where Mantashe said it was unfair to blame government for Eskom’s crisis.
He added that the crisis has persisted, despite interventions put in place by his department.
But the eco-justice organisation says Mantashe must stop the excuses and the blame-shifting, especially when government has been in control of the state utility for the past 28 years.
The organisation’s Liz Mcdaid says its counter-productive for government to not take ownership for its responsibilities.
