Following Eskom's implementation of stage 6 loadshedding, the Gauteng Department of Health confirmed that there are efforts to provide alternative energy to its facilities. The department said these efforts are meant to minimise the impact of power outages and are part of the Gauteng government's sustainable energy programme. 

 HEALTH FACILITIES NOT EXEMPTED IN JOBURG

Over the weekend, Eskom announced the failure of multiple generation units at two of its power stations, forcing them to implement loadshedding. This comes after the Johannesburg power supplier City Power said that hospitals will not be exempted during the Stage 6 loadshedding. Spokesperson Isaac Mangena said they are only able to exempt health facilities and other essential services. "Some customers can expect to be without power for 4 hours straight because certain blocks may be shed twice back-to-back. It is important to note that this situation will also impact essential services that may have previously been exempt from loadshedding. While City Power remains committed to minimising disruption to major businesses in the city and essential services such as water pumping stations and hospitals, the implementation of stage six, unfortunately, requires that we include all customers in the loadshedding schedule."

BACKED UP

 Responding to City Power's statement, provincial Health Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba explained that their facilities are equipped with solar and battery storage technologies. "Centres like Lilian Ngoyi Community Health Centre, Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital, and Kliptown Clinic already have alternative energy sources installed," said Modiba. He said this is to ensure that we minimise the impact of the service supply interruptions. "In the 2025/2026 financial year, as part of phase two, more facilities will be added into the mix of those that will now also have solar energy installed in those particular facilities." 

Modiba said they have 37 hospitals in Gauteng, and half of them have generators, while others are exempted from power cuts due to their location. "In Gauteng, most of our health facilities have got backup generators to be able to render services when there is a power supply interruption," concluded Modiba. Electricity Minister Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said Stage 6 load shedding was necessary to replenish emergency reserves. Following over 20 days of uninterrupted electricity supply, Eskom has encountered another temporary setback. We will resolve this problem. By the end of the week, we will be out of this. We are aware the return of stage 6 loadsheding makes Eskom appear to be dropping the ball. We regret this setback, but there is no sabotage," the minister said.

LOADSHEDDING REDUCED TO STAGE 4

Yesterday, Eskom announced that loadshedding will be reduced to Stage 4 from today. The power utility said this follows the successful recovery of all five units at Majuba, two units at Camden, and one unit at Medupi since Saturday, totalling eight out of ten generation units that had tripped over the weekend. Spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said additionally, emergency reserves replenishment is progressing well. "The return of these units comes after identifying the root causes of multiple unit trips, which were unconnected and purely technical, related to electrical and control system issues in auxiliary parts of these power stations," Mokwena said, adding an update will be provided this afternoon.