Western Cape's transport and public works MEC unhappy with Eskom's stage 4 announcement as PRASA disrupted

Eskom announced that stage 4 will continue until 5 am on Saturday this after more generating units broke down overnight. This comes after the power utility announced yesterday that the rolling blackouts would be extended to Saturday morning.

Eskom said that the blackouts would now also be extended over the weekend.  Stage 2 power cuts will be implemented from Friday, until Monday morning.

Meanwhile the City of Cape Town will have stage 3 power cuts, the municipality said this will last until 10 on Wednesday. The Western Cape transport and public works MEC Daylin Mitchell said the impact of load shedding on train operations need to be managed as the ongoing load shedding is undermining the ability of PRASA to keep its commuter services running.

On Tuesday Commuters were left with no choice but to come up with alternative ways to reach their destination. He further stated that the situation continues rendering Metrorail’s service unreliable with unstable train scheduling software.

“Load shedding is likely to be with us for some time into the future and I find it hard to believe that a power failure can make our most basic public transport system falter so easily. The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works has made, and continues to make, a significant investment in the public transport system.

The minister call onto PRASA and the National Department of Transport to protect the massive national investment in their commuter rail assets so that commuters can keep relying on railways to get to work, school and amenities on time.

by Everngelista Muza