Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, unveiled an ambitious plan to completely eradicate load reduction across South Africa within the next 12 to 18 months. This announcement comes on the heels of significant improvements in the nation’s electricity supply situation, with the energy availability factor consistently holding above 70%, a remarkable increase from just 48% earlier this year. Ramokgopa believes that this advancement heralds a turning point for Eskom and the country at large.
The Minister highlighted that load reduction has disproportionately affected poorer communities, creating a perception that the nation’s most vulnerable citizens are being penalised. “We are ending load reduction exceptionally shorter than that,” Ramokgopa asserted, aiming to alleviate the burden on these communities that have endured the most severe impacts.
Currently, Gauteng stands as the province bearing the brunt of these reductions, with over 632,158 customers affected. The government’s plan aims to address at least 145,000 of these concerns by March 2026. Ramokgopa noted that although Limpopo and Mpumalanga follow closely in the ranks of most affected areas, other provinces such as the Free State, North West, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, and Northern Cape could expect relief within 8 to 12 months, considering their smaller share of the load reduction problem.
However, Ramokgopa emphasised that success hinges on community cooperation. “We will end load reduction…where it’s going to be difficult,” he counseled, indicating that community engagement will be vital to implementing these changes effectively.
In addition to the load reduction strategy, the government is also taking a critical look at the Free Basic Electricity framework—currently, only 485,000 out of 2.1 million eligible Eskom customers are benefiting from this initiative. Ramokgopa explained that the low uptake can be attributed to the inadequate processes employed by municipalities to connect eligible households with this crucial assistance.