eskom load shedding

Photo: Pixabay

Load shedding: Eskom implements Stage 3 on Saturday, 16 March

Eskom confirmed on Saturday, 16 March, that load shedding Stage 3 will continue until Sunday 00:30.

eskom load shedding

Photo: Pixabay

Update: At 11:30 on Saturday 16 March, Eskom announced that rotational load shedding has moved up to stage 4, due to loss of additional units. This is due to impact areas for longer periods of time. To find out how severe disruptions to your area will be, check the load shedding schedules here.


Load shedding will continue on Saturday, 16 March, as a result of continue capacity shortage. At the time of writing, cuts were scheduled until 23:00 in the evening.

The power utility warned on Friday that load shedding will continue until Sunday, but there was some hope that it might ease off. That was not the case and, on Friday, the power cuts continued until 23:00. with further confirmation that cuts will remain deep into the evening.

Eskom reports major power plant breakdowns

On Thursday, Eskom reported that it had lost critical power generating units – thereby worsening its position to supply the country with electricity. As a result, Stage 1 load shedding was implemented to mitigate damage to the national power grid. A few hours later, this was ramped to Stage 2 – a schedule which hung around for most of February.

The usual excuse of ‘plant breakdowns’ – a result of Eskom’s dubious maintenance scheme – has been given as reason for the latest bout of rolling blackouts. On Thursday night, Eskom issued a statement, saying:

“The risk of Stage 2 rotational load shedding remains high for tomorrow as a result of shortage of capacity due to a number of generating units still out of service due to breakdowns. We will provide an update on the power system tomorrow morning.”

Stage 2 load shedding, Saturday, 16 March

On Friday morning, though, the situation had not improved. In fact, despite promises of ‘urgent interventions’ aimed at lessening the frequency of plant breakdowns, a blanket Stage 2 warning has been issued. Eskom said:

“Load shedding stage 2 will be implemented from 08h00 to 23h00 today due to a shortage of capacity.”

The Eskom Technical Review Team, appointed by Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan, has promised to provide feedback on the severe issues facing the power utility within the next month. Deputy President David Mabuza has promised a swift turnaround strategy.

To see whether your suburb will experience rotational cuts today, here’s how to check the daily load shedding schedule.