Eskom has announced that South Africans might have to brace for stage six load shedding, from 5 pm tonight (Tuesday), as the parastatal battles staff and coal shortages.
During stage six load shedding, South Africans can expect power cuts for six hours of the day, The Citizen reports.
Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter says the power utility has suffered significant losses overnight with 10 generators breaking down, in addition to complications brought about by the ongoing wildcat employee strike.
De Ruyter says he has been in discussions with National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, whose since deployed public order police officers at affected sites.
“We have not yet seen arrests – our focus currently is on containing the situation – to maintain access to sites,” said De Ruyter.
“In due course – we will consider whether to lay criminal charges, where there are crimes such as arson, public violence and intimidation,” he added.
Eskom workers have been intimidated on their way to work while four staff members’ homes have been petrol bombed.
About 70 workers are not currently not at their posts. The parastatal is also burning through hundreds of thousands of litres of diesel as it battles to keep the lights on.
Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer warned that higher stages of power cuts are on the cards should the wild cat strike continue.
De Ruyter says while Eskom wants to pay fair wages to its staff, South Africans may bear the brunt of higher electricity costs to pay for those salaries.
It plans to return to the negotiating table on Tuesday afternoon.
Teams that are at their posts are working long hours to keep the lights on.
South Africa is currently on Stage four load shedding.
