This past weekend, Eskom made an unexpected move by implementing Stage 6 load shedding, just hours after announcing a less severe Stage 3.
This marked the first time in nearly a year that South Africans were hit with Stage 6, which added to the frustration of many households and businesses already grappling with power outages.
To make matters worse, it was the second load shedding event in less than a month, with Eskom attributing the blackouts to multiple unit trips.
Although the situation improved briefly earlier in the week, with load shedding being reduced, the weekend’s power cuts left many questioning the country’s electricity stability.
Minister Ramokgopa’s Apology
In response to the crisis, Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa issued a public apology on Wednesday after Eskom suspended load shedding.
On X (formerly known as Twitter), Ramokgopa expressed his regret for the inconvenience caused by the power cuts, which disrupted both homes and businesses.
He stated, “I would like to take this opportunity to express my most sincere apology for the gross inconvenience and disruption inflicted on households, business and industry as a result of load shedding experienced over the past 3 days.”
He further emphasized that load shedding, regardless of its intensity, should never become the norm.
“Load shedding of any intensity should never be normalised in our country,” Ramokgopa added.
Acknowledging Eskom’s Efforts
The minister also took a moment to commend the efforts of Eskom’s team, particularly the skilled personnel who helped restore the power supply.
He praised Eskom’s Group CEO, Dan Marokane, and assured the public that the government was working diligently to eliminate load shedding for good, though he acknowledged there might be temporary setbacks along the way.
“We are likely to suffer temporary setbacks as we did recently, but we will prevail in the end,” Ramokgopa promised.
Public Reactions to the Apology
Ramokgopa’s apology stirred mixed reactions across social media, with some showing support while others remained skeptical.
On X, @GodPenuel expressed gratitude for the minister’s apology, stating, “Thank you for your apology, Sputla. It really means a lot to some of us.
I hope your colleagues can learn from your example and also apologize when they fall short in their job specs.”
The user also wished Ramokgopa and the Eskom team the best in their efforts.
Former 5FM radio presenter Gareth Cliff also praised the minister, noting that it was rare to see government officials take responsibility.
“Thanks, Minister. Great to see not only accountability but good manners we don’t usually get from government.
This stuff matters. We all want the country to succeed,” he said.
However, not all reactions were positive. Some social media users expressed skepticism about the apology and the future of load shedding.
One user, @JerezFynn, commented, “Load shedding is a well-planned and orchestrated business model,” suggesting a deeper, more systematic issue.
Others, like @_Mkha_Lu2li, doubted the long-term effectiveness of any promises, tweeting, “Don’t apologize because load shedding will be back again.”
Looking Ahead: Plans to End Load Shedding
Ramokgopa assured the public that comprehensive measures to eliminate load shedding permanently would soon be announced by the electricity department.
While many are hopeful, the ongoing power cuts have left many questioning when, or if, the country will truly see an end to this ongoing crisis.