South Africans were caught off guard on Saturday, 22 February 2025, when Eskom abruptly announced the implementation of Stage 3 loadshedding, despite boasting just a day earlier about stable power supply and billions in savings.
UPDATE: 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.
Stage 3 loadshedding is in place tonight: Here’s the latest
In an unexpected statement released in the evening, Eskom confirmed that power cuts would begin at 17:30 and continue until further notice.
The power utility did not specify the cause, only stating that it had “encountered another temporary setback.”
This move follows 20 days of uninterrupted electricity, raising concerns about Eskom’s ability to maintain stability in the grid. An update is expected on Sunday, 23 February 2025, when Eskom will likely provide more details on what triggered the latest power cuts.
This announcement comes as a stark contrast to Eskom’s Power Alert just a day prior, in which the utility confidently reported R17.25 billion in diesel savings and a 99% electricity supply rate for the year so far.
Eskom’s instability despite its Power Alerts
Eskom’s decision to implement Stage 3 loadshedding seemingly out of nowhere has once again raised questions about the accuracy of its public statements regarding the power system’s stability.
Just a day before the power cuts, on Friday, 21 February 2025, Eskom released a statement claiming that loadshedding remained suspended due to “stable generation capacity” and “adequate emergency reserves.”
The report detailed that:
- Electricity availability had improved to 99% compared to just 9.8% the previous year.
- Diesel savings had reached R17.25 billion due to lower reliance on Open Cycle Gas Turbines.
- Unplanned outages averaged 12,976MW, which was an improvement from last year.
However, despite these optimistic claims, the sudden return of power cuts suggests Eskom’s internal challenges remain unresolved.
While the official cause of the latest loadshedding has not been confirmed, history suggests that a series of unplanned breakdowns at major power stations is likely to blame. The most vulnerable stations in previous outages included:
- Kusile Power Station, which has experienced frequent unit breakdowns.
- Medupi Power Station, which has struggled with design flaws and technical failures.
- Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, which has been undergoing extended maintenance, reducing overall capacity.
Eskom had previously drained emergency reserves to prevent loadshedding, but it now appears those reserves have been depleted again, forcing the utility to reintroduce power cuts.
The timing of the announcement also raises questions. If Eskom knew breakdowns were affecting the grid, why did it wait until the last minute to notify the public?
This lack of transparency continues to frustrate South Africans who rely on predictable energy schedules to plan their daily activities.
What’s next for Eskom and the loadshedding outlook?
With Stage 3 loadshedding now in effect, Eskom has promised an update on Sunday, 23 February 2025, when more clarity on the extent of the crisis will be provided.
However, based on previous patterns, the following scenarios are possible:
- Stage 3 could continue into the new week if breakdowns persist.
- If Eskom manages to restore some generating units, loadshedding could be reduced to lower stages or suspended again.
- If additional power stations fail unexpectedly, there is a risk of higher stages being implemented.
Currently, despite the power utility’s posturing, the state of South Africa’s power system, during a crucial period where the country is hosting a series of G20 events and hosting foreign dignatories from developing and First World nations, remains unpredictable.
Get the latest updates on:
