Eskom says due to additional breakdowns overnight, it was unable to restore the much-needed emergency reserves.
This, the power utility says, worsened the current generation capacity constraints.
Eskom is battling to keep the lights on this week, announcing stage 3 power cuts for Friday followed by a week of stage 2 load shedding.
The utility’s spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha says a unit at Kendal power station was taken offline for emergency repairs, while a unit each at Majuba, Lethabo, and Camden – as well as Hydro de Cahorra Bassa in Mozambique – were shut down for critical planned maintenance.
“We currently have 5 579 megawatts of planned maintenance, while another 16 599 megawatts of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns”, Eskom added.