The acting CEO of the embattled power utility Eskom said while the possibility of Stage 8 loadshedding being implemented this coming winter is “extremely likely” – a complete shutdown of the national electricity grid is not.
Addressing a media briefing on Thursday morning, acting Eskom boss Calib Cassim did however concede that a “difficult” winter was in store for South Africans, and said the country was going into the colder months with less than 3,000 MW of power.
“[But] in terms of a national blackout, we are confident that will not occur because of the interventions and the control mechanisms that we have in place through a competent system operated team,” said Cassim.
On Monday, EFF leader Julius Malema fanned the flames and predicted that a national power shutdown was imminent and would take place “within the next fortnight”.
Malema called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down “to avoid a massive insurrection and the chaos that he said would occur if the country's electricity grid collapses”.
On Thursday Cassim sought to allay fears of a complete power blackout.
Meawhile Eskom board chairperson Mpho Makwana said dealing with corruption at the troubled power utility was an ongoing challenge.
He said it’s top of mind that dealing with graft is central to creating an uplifting work environment.
“Corruption undermines value creation and is an enemy of progress,” said Makwana.
“It must be uprooted completely so that it does not hinder our efforts of performance improvement.”
Makwana said numerous arrests were underway.
