Eskom’s Spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said: “Load shedding has been exacerbated by the forced shutdown of five generation units at the Medupi power station as a result of the inability to get coal into the unit due to the heavy rains in the Lephalale area last night.”

“The area experienced 65mm of rain, which added to the constraints caused by the heavy rains due to cyclone storm Eloise over the past two weeks.”

The power utility warned the country that the system remained vulnerable and unpredictable. “Loadshedding is implemented as a last resort in order to protect the integrity of the system.”