Ramokgopa says he'll be the first person to declare end to load shedding

JOHANNESBURG - Energy and Electricity minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says he will be the first person to officially declare an end to load shedding.

The power utility earlier on Friday announced a high possibility of load shedding this weekend due to several breakdowns. 

Ramokgopa was briefing Parliament's portfolio committee on the entity's 2023/2024 annual report, calling it Eskom’s "worst ever financial year" as it racked up a R25 billion net loss before tax. 

But Ramokgopa and Eskom management believe the entity is moving in the right direction in the current financial year. 

Ramokgopa briefed the committee on the previous financial year’s results where Eskom implemented a record of 329 days of load shedding. 

READ: Eskom warns of high risk of load shedding this weekend

Eskom also reported R33.9 billion spend on open-cycle gas turbines that are powered by diesel. 

Ramokgopa said while there are improvements, Eskom is still “going through turbulent waters”.

"When load shedding is behind us, the chair of Eskom and I will stand before the country and make that pronouncement. We still have those significant headwinds."

While there’s been no load shedding in almost a year, there’s still a high risk of load shedding as early as this weekend. 

"Like I said load shedding is not behind us and as I speak to you now the system is under serious strain," said Ramokgopa.

Eskom says the current financial year 2025 is much improved with no load shedding and a saving on open cycle gas turbine spend of R11.9 billion.