Load shedding is back

Load shedding is back after almost a year without the rolling power cuts.

Stage 3 of the rolling black outs kicked in at 5pm nationwide.

Electricity Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, dropped the bombshell as South Africans were still reeling from the news that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved a 12.7% electricity tariff hike for April.

Minister Ramokgopa says it was a difficult decision that Eskom couldn’t avoid, as the parastatal seeks to replenish the country’s power reserves.

 

The power utility has described the situation as a potential temporary setback.

 

 

Some South Africans are fuming over the looming dark weekend.

This is absurd!! #Eskom is currently only generating electricity from 40% of its installed coal-fired fleet. With EAF purportedly at 62% & Demand at ~26GW, there’s absolutely no plausible cause for #Loadshedding. It’s direct result of corruption, greedy profiteering & ineptitude. pic.twitter.com/5dT3CYjxpB

— Tshepo Kgadima (@tshepo_kgadima) January 31, 2025

So wait they announced they’re increasing the price of electricity then they implement #Loadshedding and we must just accept this crap. pic.twitter.com/efx24v9RNY

— Inenekazi 💃🏽 (@Inenekazi1) January 31, 2025

#Loadshedding making it’s comeback:pic.twitter.com/rItFHGcEeX

— Roronoa Zoro (@ShaheedRajab) January 31, 2025

We are no longer a third world country but something worse.

#Loadshedding pic.twitter.com/OhO3MiJdSM

— Not_Janty (@__CFCFANCLUB) January 31, 2025

Mehlo madala #LoadShedding pic.twitter.com/r5AtipPHpF

— Sphiwe Hobasi (@MrCow_man) January 31, 2025

I’m guessing everyone who is upset by the return of #Loadshedding haven’t been experiencing load reduction? in JHB east we get load reduction 2/3 times a week from 5am – 9am or 5pm to 10pm,this is normal for us

— ✨ (@Ladyormisstoyou) January 31, 2025

While the Solar PV Industry Association body, SAPVIA, acknowledges the setback, it’s urged South Africans to look at a bigger picture.

“It is important to acknowledge that a lot of hard work and collaboration had brought us to this point. As the Minister of Electricity told a media briefing earlier today, we are very much on the right track. The trend lines are moving in the right direction, and we are close to seeing an end to load shedding. Our power picture looks a lot better thanks to dedicated action on the part of the government and other stakeholders,” says the CEO of SAPVIA, Dr Rethabile Melamu.

“We are within touching distance of the finish line. I call on all stakeholders and role players to remain committed to finally ending load shedding permanently. We need to fully utilise the contribution that solar solutions can make for our goal of an energy secure future, one that is resilient and growing,” she adds.