South Africa has reached a major milestone, surpassing 200 consecutive days of uninterrupted electricity supply.
This achievement represents a crucial step in the nation’s ongoing efforts to tackle its long-standing energy crisis, according to reports on Monday citing Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
Ramokgopa stressed the government’s determination to end load shedding, a practice that has severely disrupted businesses, slowed economic growth, and negatively impacted daily life.
“Load shedding has been an albatross on the economy and logistics, interrupting businesses and being responsible for the bloodbath of unemployment,” he reportedly said at a media briefing in Free State Province. Ramokgopa acknowledged that more work remains to ensure load shedding is permanently eliminated.
The minister also highlighted the improved performance of Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned power utility, which has increased its energy availability factor (EAF) to over 66%, a significant improvement from the 55% recorded in March 2023. Eskom is on track to reach an EAF of 70% by 2025, which is expected to bring even greater stability to the country’s energy supply.
President Cyril Ramaphosa echoed this optimism in his weekly newsletter, noting the positive effects on South Africa’s GDP and investment climate. Projections from the Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University suggest GDP growth could reach up to 3% in the next 18 to 24 months.
