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By Faizel Patel

Senior Digital Journalist


Here’s your load shedding schedule for the weekend

The deliberate load shedding by Eskom is see-sawing between different stages which will leave South Africans frustrated.


Struggling state-owned entity Eskom has shared the load shedding out look for the rest of the week until Sunday.

The deliberate power cuts by Eskom are see-sawing between different stages which will leave South Africans frustrated.

Load shedding

Eskom interim spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said the load shedding stages could change at short notice.

“Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented as previously communicated from 4pm on Wednesday until 5am on Thursday. Thereafter, stage 3 load shedding will be implemented from 5am until 4pm on Thursday, followed by stage 4 load shedding until 5am on Friday.”

Weekend

Stage 3 load shedding will be implemented from 5am on Friday until 5am on Saturday. Then stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 5am on Saturday until 5am on Sunday. Eskom will publish a further update as soon as any significant changes occur,” Mokwena said.

ALSO READ: How Eskom’s rolling blackouts broke us

Generation units

Mokwena said over the past 24 hours a generation unit was returned to service at Duvha Power Station.

“In the same period, a generating unit each at Lethabo, Kendal and Kriel power stations were taken offline for repairs. The delays in returning a unit to service at Hendrina, Medupi and two units at Tutuka power stations have contributed to the capacity constraint.

“Five Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) at Ankerlig Power Station were taken out of service this morning for a planned upgrade of their control system,” Mokwena said.

Kidnapping

Meanwhile, Mokwena confirmed that an Eskom employee has been found safe following a kidnapping ordeal.

The staffer was released this week, at a location south of Johannesburg, after he was kidnapped on 16 March.

Mokwena said the employee is recovering from his ordeal.

“The employee’s car was shot at multiple times, and the employee was forcefully taken by seven assailants. He was later released at a location in the south of Johannesburg and had to be admitted to hospital as a result of injuries sustained from being assaulted by the attackers.

“The matter is now subject to police investigation,” Mokwena said.

ALSO READ: Eskom employee found safe after kidnapping ordeal

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Eskom kidnapping Rolling blackouts South Africa