No electricity load-shedding is expected until the weekend, said Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger.
No electricity load-shedding is expected until the weekend, said Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger.
In a telephone interview with Grocott’s Mail on Wednesday morning November 26 Etzinger urged citizens to use electricity as sparingly as possible.
“We are running short of diesel supply and people can expect electricity cuts over the weekend, but we are doing everything we can to make sure that everything is back to normal,” Etzinger said.
The load-shedding schedule over the weekend for the period 22 November to 20 December remained valid. It will apply during high-risk periods.
Etzinger stressed on the availability of diesel as the main factor affecting supply, indicating that the weather was not a major factor. Last week a lot of activities were interrupted as a result of the power cuts in Grahamstown. Although essential services were not affected by a power cut in Grahamstown on Friday 21 November, continued rolling blackouts could lead to water rationing in Grahamstown, officials warn.
Saints Bistro manager Warren Bouwer said his was among a number of restaurants forced to turn diners away as the power went out in the city.
"We can never really prepare for load-shedding because the times on the schedules are not consistent with the outages," Bouwer said.
A wine auction in aid of Hospice, an art exhibition opening and a school play were among the social events affected by the power cut.
Around 150 Oatlands Preparatory School pupils ready for curtain-up on the Rhodes Theatre stage at 6.30pm were left puzzled as the theatre was plunged into darkness. Teachers kept up their spirits by leading them into song, as friends and families in the stalls heard the news that the theatre's generator wasn't working.
Administrative assistant at the school Cathy Smith said they, like most, had been taken by surprise by the cut. While a load-shedding schedule has been in place, none of the predicted cuts have been implemented.
The school's annual play, Fantastic Mr Fox, will be performed tonight Wednesday 26 November at 6pm.
Load-shedding schedule as issued by Eskom on 21 November 2014 :
Sat, 22 Nov 06:00 – 08:30
Sun, 23 Nov 06:00 – 08:30
Mon, 24 Nov 06:00 – 08:30
Tue, 25 Nov 12:00 – 14:30
Wed, 26 Nov 12:00 – 14:30
Thu, 27 Nov 18:00 – 20:30
Fri, 28 Nov 18:00 – 20:30
Sat, 29 Nov 06:00 – 08:30
Sun, 30 Nov 06:00 – 08:30
Mon, 01 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Tue, 02 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Wed, 03 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Thu, 04 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Fri, 05 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Sat, 06 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Sun, 07 Dec –
Mon, 08 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Tue, 09 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Wed, 10 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Thu, 11 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Fri, 12 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Sat, 13 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Sun, 14 Dec –
Mon, 15 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Tue, 16 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Wed, 17 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Thu, 18 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Fri, 19 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Sat, 20 Dec 06:00 – 08:30
Updates available on: http://loadshedding.eskom.co.za/
Type in Grahamstown in the quick search box, top right.
