Eskom announced tonight that stage 4 load-shedding will be implemented on Sunday afternoon.

Due to the loss of five large generation units over the past 36 hours, as well as the delay in returning five units to service, load-shedding will regrettably be increased to stage 3 (previously communicated stage 2) at 07:00 -16:00 tomorrow. Between 16:00 and 00:00 load-shedding will be implemented at stage 4, and then reduced to stage 2 until 05:00 on Monday,” the power utility said in a media statement.

Stage 4 load-shedding will be implemented at 05:00 to 00:00 on Monday. Load-shedding will then be reduced to stage 2 from midnight until 05:00 on Tuesday.

Eskom says three units at Kendal, one each at Tutuka and Majuba power stations were forced offline to perform emergency repairs.

“The return to service of a unit each at the Medupi, Arnot, Camden, Kriel and Duvha power stations has been delayed.”

According to Eskom, the load-shedding schedules for Sunday and Monday are confirmed, while the schedule for the rest of the week could still change.