Eskom rubbishes load shedding reports post elections

Share the Article:

Eskom has rubbished reports trending on social media regarding load shedding resuming on Thursday, May 30 as fake news.

Load shedding has been suspended for sixty-two consecutive days and continues to be suspended.

According to the utility spokesperson Daphney Mokwena, the previous power alert issued by Eskom was on May 24, where it announced the continued suspension of load shedding.

“Our generation availability continues to perform well as a result of the Generation Recovery Plan that commenced in March 2023, as well as our intensive planned maintenance.

“Unplanned outages are averaging at 12 500MW, below what was anticipated for our winter outlook. The energy availability factor (EAF) of four of our power stations is performing above 70%. Our year-to-date EAF is improving gradually and is currently at 60.73%,” she remarked.

Mokwena revealed that Eskom will provide regular updates and the next update will be on Friday, May 31.”

In an interview on television channel NewzroomAfrika, energy expert Mthunzi Luthuli said it’s sad that we’re sceptical when there’s no load shedding and should highlight how serious the problem is.

Load shedding will definitely return

“Load shedding will definitely return, few weeks ago Eskom had a press conference and warned us [that load shedding might return] although they didn’t say after the elections but in winter (obviously this is after the elections).

“The problem with this is that we’ve always known that there’s winter every year, so why did they not prepare for winter,” he asked.

ALSO READ | Correctional Services ready for inmates to vote on Election Day

Luthuli stated that the most serious reason is that this load shedding problem in South Africa is not a technical problem.

He added; “Coal fire power generation is a nineteenth century technology, a matured [technology] and engineers knows how it works. If something breaks, we know how to fix it. The problem is primarily political and to a smaller degree it’s managerial.

“The private sector wants to get into power generation sector to make money, but in order to justify the entry, Eskom must be shown to be unable to provide electricity for the country.”

Minister of Electricity, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is adamant the report is factually incorrect and an ill-guided political ploy to mislead the country on the eve of our seventh general elections.

“The ministry remains confident that the work we have been leading over the past twelve months, supported by the many competent Eskom employees and its leadership team, will continue in the coming months and ultimately place the country on a firm foundation of energy security to support our inclusive economic growth and development agenda,” he concluded.