Eskom will implement Stage 3 load shedding on Wednesday from 8 am to 11 pm as a result of a shortage of capacity, the power utility said.
The shortage was a result of a number of generating units that are out of service due to breakdowns, it said.
"Our maintenance teams continue to work hard and through the night to bring units back online. Four units totalling 1,675MW were returned [on Tuesday] and we expect an additional 600MW to return to service [on Wednesday]," Eskom said in a statement on Tuesday night.
"Despite the return of these generating units as planned and some replenishment of diesel supplies, the water and diesel emergency reserves are still very low and we remain concerned about the risk to our operations as a result of Wednesday’s planned national strike action by [Congress of South African Trade Unions] Cosatu."
On Tuesday, the labour federation called for a national shutdown in eight provinces. It called on workers to stay at home on Wednesday and not go to work while others would picket countrywide.
Eskom said it would activate contingency plans for Wednesday.
- African News Agency (ANA)
