POLL | Do you think Ramokgopa will end load-shedding by December?

South Africa is battling stage 5 and 6 load-shedding, with the Sunday Times reporting the power utility “silently implemented” stage 8 last week. 

Speaking to the media on Monday on the sidelines of the ANC's national working committee meeting in Polokwane, Ramokgopa said stage 6 was the highest implemented thus far.

“I did indicate from the onset of my responsibilities that I am going to be very honest and transparent with the South African public. I indicated that if there is any degree of deterioration of the grid I'll communicate that directly with the South African public. I have noted some reporters suggesting we are already on stage 8 load-shedding. I want to say that such information is not sitting with me.”

The electricity minister added that he was engaging Eskom and public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan on a winter plan, as demand is expected to rise significantly.

“Our initial computations suggest we need something in the order of about 6,000MW for us to close the gap. This is a determination made on summer conditions. On average, Eskom can guarantee us about 27,000MW and we know that peak demand in summer is about 32,000MW.

“Now we are entering winter, which is going to be a very difficult period. The numbers suggest that historically the average [demand] is about 35,000MW, but it can go up to 37,000MW,” Ramokgopa said earlier this month.