JOHANNESBURG - Eskom implemented Stage 4 blackouts prematurely on Friday.
They are set to continue until 5am on Saturday.
Stage 3 will then be implemented until 4pm on Saturday followed by Stage 4 during peak times.
Power cuts stages will then vary between two and four until Monday morning.
The power utility says this is due to a further breakdown in generating capacity and a much higher increase in demand.
It says four units at three power stations had to be taken offline for repairs while there have been delays in restoring units.
#POWERALERT1
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) March 31, 2023
Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until 05:00 on Saturday. Thereafter, loadshedding will be implemented at Stages 3, 4 and 2 on Saturday and Sunday pic.twitter.com/YALQEdlISL