Much like capacity at Eskom, so too, does power in parts of Sandton remain scarce. Whilst load-shedding was suspended this past Friday evening at 8pm, residents in Hurlingham, Parkmore, Sandton, Sandown, Sandhurst, and surrounding areas remained without electricity for most of the long weekend – and now, Stage 2 load-shedding returns.

• Some Eskom technicians embarked on a go-slow, further extending turnaround time to restore power supply over the weekend.
  
• Due to the subsequent backlog, returning electricity to the affected areas took longer than normal.
  
• Now, due to a shortage of generation capacity, Stage 2 load-shedding will be implemented from 4pm until 5am tomorrow.
  
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Sandton might be seen as Africa’s richest square mile and the economic heart of South Africa, but the past long weekend saw hotels and restaurants run generators at full capacity, whilst some residents had to warm up food and beverages on camping gas canisters by candlelight – a far cry from the modern financial and business hub image – and now, Stage 2 load-shedding returns, possibly for the rest of the week.

With regrets and apologies galore, Eskom advised that a generation unit at Kusile power station tripped, adding to the current constraints. A unit each at Matimba and Arnot power stations failed to return to service as previously anticipated reports the power utility. These constraints are now expected to persist for the rest of the week, which may require the load-shedding to be extended. Eskom is currently utilising emergency generation reserves extensively to supplement supply, reads a media advisory.

Less than a day after the local government elections, businesses and residents of greater parts of Sandton will be without power again. Like the experiences of the past weekend, those living in the affected areas will have to fork out on food delivery services and mobile connectivity whilst dealing with defrosted freezers, geysers that have run cold, batteries that have run-flat, and no timeline for when electricity will remain switched-on for good.

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