Stage 3 power cuts to kick in from 5pm on Friday - Ramokgopa

JOHANNESBURG - Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said that stage three load shedding will be implemented from 5pm on Friday.
 
Ramokgopa said this was due to failures at two of Eskom's best-performing power stations, Matimba and Lethabo.
 
The minister briefed the media at Megawatt Park on the current capacity constraints.
 
On Friday morning, Eskom issued a warning of a high possibility of load shedding after 10 months of no power cuts. 
 
Ramokgopa said the utility had suffered some temporary setbacks.

"We got hit by a perfect storm. So what is that perfect storm? We had the units out for planned maintenance and remember I said that as part of the generation recovery plan, the chair made this point, we are not going to compromise on planned maintenance. And thanks to the fiscal support we've received from national Treasury, Mr Nxumalo and the team have been able to do the planned maintenance."