Eskom has intensified power cuts to Stage 6 loadshedding, just a day after implementing Stage 3, citing multiple breakdowns at key power stations.
UPDATE: Eskom released a statement on Tuesday evening (25 February 2025) confirming that loadshedding will be suspended at 05:00 on Wednesday due to “the successful recovery of generation capacity and significant progress in replenishing emergency reserves.“ Read more on the latest loadshedding schedule.
Eskom increases loadshedding to Stage 6
In a statement released on Sunday, 23 February 2025, the power utility confirmed that Stage 6 loadshedding was implemented at 01:30 due to unit failures at Camden Power Station, which compounded earlier breakdowns at Majuba and Medupi Power Stations.
These failures resulted in a loss of 3,864MW of generation capacity, while planned maintenance accounted for 7,506MW being offline.
According to Eskom, the escalation was necessary to replenish emergency reserves and prepare for the coming week. The power utility is expected to provide further details during a media briefing at 11:00 today.
This marks a drastic shift from Eskom’s recent claims of stability, raising fresh concerns about the reliability of South Africa’s electricity grid. The sudden return of severe power cuts comes despite Eskom previously boasting about billions in fuel savings and uninterrupted electricity supply for over 20 days.
What happens at Stage 6?
Stage 6 loadshedding significantly increases the frequency and duration of power cuts, impacting households, businesses, and essential services.
Under this stage:
- Electricity will be off for up to 6 hours at a time, multiple times per day.
- Industries, hospitals, and water supply systems face operational disruptions.
- Traffic congestion increases due to non-functioning traffic lights.
- Telecommunications and internet services experience severe strain.
Historically, Stage 6 is implemented when Eskom loses more than 6,000MW from the grid, leaving the power utility with no choice but to shed more demand. It is also a sign that the system is under extreme pressure, with risks of even higher stages if breakdowns persist.
Eskom has assured the public that loadshedding is a temporary measure, but with no timeframe given for when Stage 6 will end, concerns remain about how long these severe outages will last.
The timing of this escalation is particularly concerning, as South Africa is currently hosting G20-related events, drawing international attention to its fragile energy system.
While Eskom maintains that its Generation Operational Recovery Plan is improving the grid, the sudden jump to Stage 6 suggests the system remains unstable, with the potential for further escalations if breakdowns continue.
A clearer outlook is expected following Eskom’s 11:00 media briefing, but for now, South Africans are once again faced with uncertain and severe power disruptions.
