The power utility, Eskom, has announced that stage 6 load-shedding will be implemented as of Monday July 4 afternoon, with varying stages being implemented during the week. “As the generation capacity shortages persist over the next few weeks, load-shedding will continue to be implemented at various stages.”

The return to capacity also depends on a variety of factors, including the return of the striking workforce, which is needed to perform some much-needed repairs. “It is anticipated that load-shedding will gradually be lowered to stage 2 by the weekend,” announced Eskom in a statement released on Sunday July 3.

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The ongoing power cuts have done nothing but fuel more anger among members of the public, who mostly opened up to Mpumalanga News about this current situation. Many citizens are complaining that when the power returns, it damages some of their electronic devices such as refrigerators, microwaves and TVs.

The biggest damage caused by the constant cuts is fires erupting in houses when the power returns. Such incidents have been reported in areas such as Matsulu, Mganduzweni, Nkomazi and Tekwane South.

The small-medium business sector is one of the hardest hit by Eskom’s load-shedding and load reduction. Businesses such as barber shops, hair and beauty salons, township bakeries, internet services and fast-food outlets have all been forced to shut their doors.

“We were forced to close until we know for certain that there will not be any more power cuts. What is even more worrying and disturbing is the fact that we are renting the spaces we use, and the landlords expect something at the end of the month. This is really killing us,” said Jimmy Khoza, who runs a barbershop in Pienaar, Emoyeni.

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Taking a swipe at Eskom’s incompetence was the Mpumalanga EFF leader, Collen Sedibe, who sympathised with the business sector, also arguing that township economy has been crippled by the continuous power cuts.

“Government doesn’t have a long-term vision and answers to this problem. And in the main, the ordinary citizens are forced to look elsewhere for survival. Let us face it, township economy and small businesses are dying because of this load-shedding. Maybe without politicising the matter, it is time for a new government with a proper plan to fix Eskom. I would like to believe that we, the EFF, can do better,” said Sedibe.