South Africa has longest non-stop power streak for two years

South Africa has now gone for 21 consecutive days without power cuts, the first time such a streak has been achieved in nearly two years.

“The last time Eskom achieved a similar milestone was in June 2022, with 20 consecutive days without load shedding,” state-owned power company Eskom said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement added that Eskom would continue to suspend the power cuts, known locally as loads hedding, “until further notice”.

It attributed the stabilisation of power supply to reduced demand for electricity, adequate emergency power reserves and an improvement in its electricity generation capacity.

But some South Africans have voiced scepticism on social media, speculating that the reduced power cuts could be a scheme by the ruling government to appease voters, ahead of next month’s crucial general election.

South Africa reached the height of its energy crisis last year, with several homes and businesses going without power for up to 16 hours a day.