Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter says he remains cautiously optimistic that the blackouts will not continue next week.

The power utility has currently reduced load shedding from stage 4 to stage 3.

Stage 2 will be implemented from 5am on Friday morning until load shedding is lifted on Saturday.

De Ruyter says they are in the process of procuring additional diesel to fuel emergency reserves.

“We’ve got a number of very large units that are coming back. We have a fair degree of confidence that by Saturday morning, we will be able to lift load shedding and the outlook for next week is positive.”

“We are in the process of procuring additional diesel to fuel our emergency reserves and we should therefore be in a good position next week. However, as we all have learned by now, the Eskom system is unreliable, it is not predictable, so there is always a residual risk that unfortunately remains,” says De Ruyter.

The video below is Eskom’s media briefing proceedings: