Continued unlawful strike sees stage 6 loadshedding extended

Stage 6 loadshedding will take effect again today at 2pm, running until midnight.

State-owned utility provider Eskom said ongoing unlawful and unprotected strike action has caused widespread disruption at its plants.

A number of generating units have not returned to service as a result, forcing the utility to take ‘unprecedented’ steps to conserve emergency generating capacity to safeguard the power grid.

“The unlawful strike has a serious, detrimental impact not only on Eskom, but also the broader South African public and economy. Union members who work in a designated essential service have a legal and moral obligation to return to work so as to safeguard South Africa from further loadshedding,” Eskom said in a media statement today.

Unavailable capacity owing to breakdowns stands at 17 467MW.

Stage 4 loadshedding will take effect at midnight and run until 5am on Friday. The rest of Friday will see stage 6 loadshedding implemented and a minimum stage 4 will be required continuously over the weekend.

“The high level of absenteeism and intimidation of working employees at some power plants is still rife and has made it difficult to conduct routine maintenance and other required operations,” said Eskom.

Here are your times (*Note, these may be updated at a later stage):

Ballito Southern Grid:

Thursday: From 3pm through to 7.30pm and again from 11pm to midnight.

Friday: 5am to 7.30am, 1-3.30pm and again from 9pm to midnight.

Stanger Northern Grid: 

Thursday: 3-7.30pm, and 11pm to midnight.

Friday: 5-7.30am, 1-5.30pm and again from 9pm to midnight.

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