Intense load shedding 'to ease by Wednesday'

Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has blamed boiler tube leaks at power stations for the intense power cuts.

"Essentially, we had nine units that contributed to this 4400MW over a space of two days. So it's a cluster of these units failing simultaneously. A lot of these units are big and they each generate about 600 megawatts.

Briefing the media in Pretoria on Sunday. Ramokgopa said together with Eskom, they took a decision not to cut corners and put the lives of employees at risk in returning the units to service.

 READ: Stage 6 loadshedding continues as Eskom struggles to return units to service

"We should not place a single life at risk in our endeavour to return the units quicker. 

"We must do everything that is right even if it means the intensity of load shedding would be above the summer plan. 

"We must do things right so that we avoid in fatalities, and we have a duty to the employees at Eskom, ultimately make sure when these units come back, they come back healthier," he added.

Load shedding stage 5 was in place on Monday "until further notice".