Load-shedding stops Currie Cup match at Mbombela Stadium for eight minutes
The crowd were cheering on a Pumas' attack when darkness arrived
Scheduled load-shedding put the Carling Currie Cup match between the Airlink Pumas and DHL Western Province in the dark for eight minutes last night.
According to stadium manager Roelf Kotze they were aware of the scheduled power interruption.
With kick-off at 19:00 the match should have been concluded by 21:00, the time the load-shedding was due to start.
The match had an unusually high number of stoppages.
“When we realised that the game would only finish after 21:00 the stadium announcer did inform the spectators of the pending power outage,” said Kotze.
“The stadium generators did kick in when the load-shedding started but in took eight minutes before the floodlights were at full strength”
Lowvelder asked Kotze about the upcoming Castle Lager Rugby Championship test match between the Springboks and the All Blacks.
“We are in the process of upgrading the stadium UPS and when the match takes place on August 6 a system will be in place in which any sort of mainline power supply failure will not effect the floodlights,” said Kotze.
