ESKOM has implemented load shedding due to a shortage of capacity between 11am and 11pm on Thursday.

The power utility reminded residents and businesses to use electricity sparingly during this period.

“Please switch off geysers as well as all non-essential lighting and electricity appliances to assist in reducing demand,” the utility said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Deputy President David Mabuza told members of parliament that the power utility some of the root causes of the current state of affairs with regard to electricity supply have been the growth of the population and the extension of supply to all South Africans, as well as governance, financial and operational challenges within Eskom.

He said funding constraints within the organisation are resulting in less budget allocations to capital funding for the critical maintenance programme.

Mabuza said on the operational side, more than half of Eskom’s fleet is over 37 years old and these power stations are at a stage where they require significant refurbishment to maintain the same standard of performance.

He said to support the turnaround plan, government has allocated R23 billion per year for the next three years.

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