South Africa was plunged back into darkness on Sunday as the national energy provider, Eskom, abruptly implemented severe power cuts across the country. Just weeks after suggesting the worst of years-long electricity shortages might be over, Eskom announced rationing “until further notice” due to multiple breakdowns at coal-fired power plants.
The utility implemented stage six load shedding, meaning power is cut a dozen times over four days, for up to four hours at a time, rotated nationwide. This sudden return to severe disruptions comes as a shock, especially after Eskom reported significant improvements earlier this year, citing [mention specific reasons for previous optimism, e.g., increased generation capacity, reduced unplanned outages].
The power cuts are a major blow to businesses, forcing closures and impacting productivity. Hospitals and other essential services also face disruptions. Small businesses, already struggling, are particularly vulnerable. “We lose hours of work every day,” said [quote from a small business owner]. “It’s impossible to plan.”
The timing is particularly embarrassing for South Africa, as it coincides with meetings of G20 diplomats. The opposition Democratic Alliance party called the situation “unacceptable” and renewed its call for the privatization of electricity generation. The government faces mounting pressure to resolve the crisis, with [mention any specific government reactions or political fallout].
Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa apologized for the “setback” and attributed the breakdowns to technical issues, ruling out sabotage. He stated that full power should be restored by the end of the week. “A setback. Unacceptable. We understand your anger, your disappointment, your grievance. We will resolve this,” Ramokgopa said. He reiterated that a long-term plan, including infrastructure maintenance and new capacity, would eventually end load shedding.
Eskom’s struggles are a major constraint on South Africa’s economy. The unreliable power supply deters foreign investment and hinders growth. The utility, burdened by massive debt and plagued by mismanagement and corruption, generates over 80% of its power from coal-fired stations and faces pressure to transition to renewable energy.