Stage 6 Load-Shedding: Temporary Pain for Long-Term Gain - Cabinet Asserts

During a meeting on Wednesday, the South African Cabinet expressed their assurance that the recent implementation of stage 6 load-shedding is a short-term measure poised to deliver longer-term benefits to the nation. The information was revealed by the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, during a briefing on the Cabinet's Wednesday meeting.

There were comprehensive deliberations about the ongoing electricity challenges. Cabinet was updated on Eskom's current planned maintenance programme, designed to ensure the utility’s plants sustainability. The higher stages of load-shedding recently witnessed are resultant of the planned fleet maintenance programme implementation.

Ntshavheni revealed that the introduction of stage 6 load-shedding marked a regression from the trend of lower stages that had dominated previous weeks. Despite the current inconvenience, the Cabinet is confident that Eskom's preparation for sustained lower stages in the near future will prove beneficial in the long run.

President Ramaphosa encouraged South Africans to view the current stage 6 load-shedding situation positively, calling it "short-term pain for longer-term gain." He asserted that the current intensive load-shedding will not last indefinitely, as it is merely a short-term measure.

They are maintaining our fleet. They are making sure that incidents of load-shedding that have been given rise to in the past because of unplanned load-shedding events like breakdowns are put behind us.”

He added that the more intense load-shedding will not last. “This, as much as it is stage 6, is of a short-term nature,” Ramaphosa said.

He said the minister of electricity has briefed him thoroughly about the processes that Eskom is going through. “There is short-term pain for longer-term gain,” he said.

The President further urged South Africans to see the current process and the subsequent stage 6 load-shedding in a positive light.

“We are obviously worried when there is load-shedding, but as we go through this process now, we must see it in a positive light because, in the long term, these are things we have to do to say goodbye to load-shedding,” he said.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile told the Parliamentary Press Gallery Association that intensive maintenance in line with Minister Ramokgopa's plan is being executed at the power stations. He indicated that such intensive maintenance is a significant factor in the sudden load-shedding escalation.

Consequently, South Africans should expect these intensified power cuts to persist in the short term, although they promise positive long-term effects as a result of adherence to the planned and philosophy maintenance schedule.