JOHANNESBURG – Eskom has lowered load shedding for the weekend from Stage 3 to Stage 2 thanks to an improvement in generation capacity.
Stage 2 will continue until 05:00 on Sunday, followed by Stage 1 until 16:00 on Sunday.
A load shedding update is expected on Sunday afternoon.
Eskom says load shedding was downgraded after a generation unit returned to service. But unplanned outages continued to be at 13 792MW of generating capacity. Just under 8 500MW is offline due to planned maintenance.
Eskom says it wants to return 2 150MW of generating capacity to service by Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, newly appointed Eskom Group chief executive Dan Marokane will officially report for duty on 1 March, Eskom said on Friday.
Marokane was appointed on 8 December last year, with Eskom stating at the time that he would join the organisation no later than 31 March.
“On behalf of the Eskom board, I officially welcome Dan to the organisation,” said Eskom board chairperson, Mteto Nyati in a statement.
“The board wishes him well as he steers Eskom in the right direction and leading its turnaround from the front. We have confidence in his capabilities, as well as those of the leadership and staff of Eskom, to turn the organisation around,” added Nyati.
“The board also expresses its deepest gratitude to Calib Cassim for his leadership and the stability he brought as the acting group chief executive. His dedication and commitment as well as his efforts to keep management and staff focused and motivated, have not gone unnoticed. Through his stewardship, Eskom managed to navigate through challenges and achieved significant milestones,” said Nyati. – news24.com
