South Africa is facing Stage 6 load shedding following failures at key power stations.

On Saturday, 23 February, Eskom escalated power cuts from Stage 3 to Stage 6 after multiple generating units failed at the Majuba and Camden power stations, reducing generation capacity by 3 864 megawatts. An additional 7 506 megawatts remain offline for maintenance.

Minister of Electricity, doctor Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, ruled out sabotage, instead attributing the crisis to technical failures. He expressed confidence that power supply would stabilise by the end of the week.

Eskom has reported progress in restoring capacity. Group Chief Executive Officer Dan Marokane confirmed that six of the ten lost units had been returned to service, recovering 3 ,200 megawatts. Further units are expected to come online soon, potentially reducing power cuts in the coming days.

The South African Federation of Trade Unions has warned of economic consequences. General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi stated that ongoing Stage 6 load shedding could push the country into recession, exacerbating unemployment, inequality, and poverty.

The escalation to Stage 6 highlights the ongoing challenges within South Africa’s energy sector, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable solutions to ensure a reliable power supply and mitigate economic fallout.

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