Eskom Blames Old Systems for Loadshedding, COO Jan Oberholzer Says They Are Unpredictable and Unreliable

• Chief Executive of Eskom André de Ruyter and several other officials addressed the media on Wednesday
• The power utility implemented Stage 2 loadshedding on Tuesday afternoon and it will last until Monday
• Eskom’s CFO Jan Oberholzer said the system is old and routine maintenance cannot be done on it because of SA's demands

JOHANNESBURG - Eskom said that the power utility is trying its best to meet the country’s demands, but its system is “unreliable and unpredictable.” Chief Executive of Eskom André de Ruyter and other officials from management briefed the media following the implementation of loadshedding on Tuesday 3 May.

The country has been placed on Stage two loadshedding until Monday 9 May at 5 am. Eskom’s COO Jan Oberholzer said South Africans need to understand that the system is old and routine maintenance cannot be done on it because of the country’s demands.

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The media briefing was live-streamed on SABC News and Oberholzer said the planning and designing of power stations were not done properly because of the demand. He also claimed that Eskom trying to not implement loadshedding but there is a risk during winter.

“There have been 29 days of loadshedding last year and now the same time this year there have were 25, so it’s a few days less of loadshedding. Two days with Stage 1 and 17 at Stage 2, two days at Stage 3. For me the alarming one is four days at Stage 4,” said Oberholzer commenting on the progress Eskom has made since last year.

According to TimesLIVE eThekwini municipality, which was hit by the recent floods will not experience load-shedding.

Eskom attributes loadshedding to the shortage of generation capacity after Lethabo, Tutuka, Ingula, Drakensberg, Arnot, Hendrina and Matla power stations experienced faults.

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Eskom announces Stage 2 loadshedding and the people of Mzansi lose it, folks' humour has run out

In a similar story, Briefly News also reported Eskom has announced the implementation of Stage 2 loadshedding and the people of South Africa have let them have it. This is reoccurring nonsense that just isn’t funny anymore.

Loadshedding is becoming a bi-weekly norm now and Saffas are getting a little sick of it. People want answers and “shortage of generation capacity” is just not cutting it. Taking to Twitter to drop the bomb, Eskom released a statement on why the country would be experiencing loadshedding once again. For now, it is Stage 2 until Monday, but we all know that may change… and not for the better. “Due to a shortage of generation capacity, Eskom regrets having to implement Stage 2 loadshedding from 17:00 this afternoon until 05:00 on Monday.”

Source: Briefly News