00h00-02h30 Group 12,16,4,8,11,15 02h00-04h30 Group 13,1,5,9,12,16 04h00-05h30 Group 14,2,6,10,13,1
Stage 4
05H00-06H30 Group 14,2,6,10 06h00-08h30 Group 15,3,7,11 08h00-10h30 Group 16,4,8,12 10h00-12h30 Group 1,5,9,13 12h00-14h30 Group 2,6,10,14 14h00-16h30 Group 3,7,11,15
Stage 6
16h00-18h30 Group 4,8,12,16,3,7 18h00-20h30 Group 5,9,13,1,4,8 20h00-22h30 Group 6,10,14,2,5,9 22h00-00h30 Group 7,11,15,3,6,10
South Africans should brace themselves for possible higher stages of load shedding. Image: AFP.
Here are some tips to mitigate against risks caused by rolling blackouts:
Make use of surge protection: Electric surges are one of the biggest causes of damage to equipment during a power outage. Installing a surge protection device can help minimise some damage in unforeseen situations. Have a surge protection device fitted to your electrical distribution board or, alternatively, at the power outlet to the electronic device.
Ensure that your alarm system is working and the backup battery is fully functional to provide power to the system in the event of load shedding.
Spare torch or headlamp: Keep a torch in your car in case you arrive home at night during a power outage. Most smartphones have built-in torch or torch apps, which come in handy during unexpected power outages.
Charge your cellphone, laptop, and tablet: Ensure your cellphone, laptop, and tablet devices are fully charged ahead of scheduled blackouts. Be sure to charge them again as soon as possible after the power returns. It’s also a good idea to have an emergency phone charger (like a power bank) close by. This comes in handy during extended power outages.
Gas for cooking and lighting: Get a small LP gas bottle and lamp. It gives good quality lighting for a large area and can also be used for cooking and boiling water. It’s a good idea to keep hot water in a thermal flask so that you can make hot drinks.