Loadshedding will be reduced to Stages 2 and 4 over the weekend, Eskom said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

Stage 4 loadshedding was implemented at 14:00 and will continue until 05:00 on Saturday. Thereafter, Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 on Saturday until 16:00, followed by Stage 4 until 05:00 on Sunday.

This pattern will be repeated on Sunday.

Breakdowns are currently at 16 468MW of generating capacity while the capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 4 601MW.

Eskom’s load forecast for the evening peak demand is 27 760MW. Over the past 24 hours, a generating unit at Camden Power Station was taken offline for repairs. In the same period, however, a generating unit each at Arnot, Grootvlei, Kendal and Majuba power stations returned to service. A generating unit at Matla remains offline as its anticipated return to service is delayed, which has worsened capacity constraints.