“And So It Begins Again”: Eskom Implements Stage 2 Load Shedding, SA Is Gatvol

• Local power utility Eskom has just announced it would be implementing Stage 2 load shedding for most of the weekend
• The power cuts are due to what Eskom is calling "generation capacity constraints" and are expected to end on Monday at 5 am
• Peeps were really over it and headed to the comments section to share their reactions

As the festive period draws closer, Mzansi is not at all impressed after Eskom just announced it would be implementing Stage 2 loadshedding.

Heading to its official Twitter account, @Eskom_SA issued the power alert, saying "generation capacity constraints" was the cause for the powercuts. Loadshedding will take place from 9 pm on Saturday evening until 5 am on Monday morning, putting a damper on many peoples weekends plans.

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Check out some of the social media reactions to the news:

@KayCee_Girl said:

"And so it starts again… until Monday so funny. Tomorrow it will be that the conveyor belt got stuck, the coal is wet, the coal trucks are striking, or some other excuse, to extend it to next weekend."

Eskom disconnects power to 700 Diepkloof homes due to illegal connections

In related news, Briefly News previously reported that Eskom has disconnected its power supply to the Diepkloof Zone 3 area in Soweto. The reason for this is that the power utility is punishing residents for making use of illegal electricity connections.

Amanda Qithi, a spokesperson for Eskom in Gauteng, said that the power utility has sustained a large number of energy losses from illegal connections, illegal electricity sales, and people bypassing electricity meters.

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If households in the township want to have their electricity supply restored, they have to pay Eskom R6052 before they will do so, the power utility said.

Effects of Eskom's decision to disconnect Diepkloof households

According to News24, Diepkloof residents were angered by Eskom disconnecting their homes from the power grid and responded by protesting in their area. They set up barricades on several roads and highways.

"Ever since we have converted the area into prepaid, they are not buying electricity. We then gave them fines of R6 052 per household. Illegal connections are rife, which is why they don't buy electricity because they are illegally connected," Qithi said.

The Eskom spokesperson said that the power utility does not have a targeted campaign against Diepkloof and will do the same in other areas where a high number of illegal connections are prevalent.

Reactions to Eskom shutting off Diepkloof's illegal connections

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@Lesheke believes:

"This is stupid. Why don’t you deal with those who don’t pay instead of switching off an entire township? You’re going to regret it."

@MbawoLive said:

"Go to the individual houses!"

@JustKatlee asked:

"This is unfair, your system should show you who pays and who not. Why must those of us that pay be punished as well?"

@Percy_Neo shared:

"So paying these fees will miraculously solve the problem of illegal connections, meter bypassing and ghost vendors. Come fix and work from there and when you pick up the fault you can pull the plug on the defaulting customer, not the whole zone."

Source: Briefly News