---
title: "State of Disaster would help us to 'move with speed', says ANC as SA hit by Stage 6 blackouts"
description: "Eskom announced the return of stages 5 and 6 rolling blackouts on Tuesday, as the ANC briefed the media on the outcomes of its lekgotla and the possible declaration of a National State of Disaster to deal with the energy crisis."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "POWER CRISIS"
author: "Victoria O’Regan"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/victoria-oregan-3-2-2/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-31-anc-nec-urges-ramaphosa-to-declare-national-state-of-disaster/"
published: "2023-01-31T15:20:44"
updated: "2023-03-16T14:32:46"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 385
---

# State of Disaster would help us to 'move with speed', says ANC as SA hit by Stage 6 blackouts

> Eskom announced the return of stages 5 and 6 rolling blackouts on Tuesday, as the ANC briefed the media on the outcomes of its lekgotla and the possible declaration of a National State of Disaster to deal with the energy crisis.

By Victoria O’Regan · Published 31 January 2023, 17:20 SAST · Updated 16 March 2023, 16:32 SAST

## Key points
- Eskom has implemented Stage 5 and 6 power cuts after several of its generating units broke down. In response, the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) discussed the energy crisis at its lekgotla over the weekend, and called for the energy crisis to be declared a National State of Disaster. This would help government to “move with speed” in solving the crisis and protecting, rebuilding and saving Eskom. The NEC also agreed to accelerate the Energy Action Plan and Just Energy Transition so that there is no load shedding by the end of the year. Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said that it was important for all measures to be taken to protect, rebuild and save Eskom.
- Eskom implemented Stage 5 and 6 power cuts after several units broke down
- ANC National Executive Committee’s (NEC) lekgotla discussed the crisis and called for it to be declared a National State of Disaster
- The lekgotla also called for the acceleration of the Energy Action Plan and the Just Energy Transition
- President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering declaring a National State of Disaster to help move with speed in solving the energy crisis

## Content

As ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula briefed the media on the outcomes of the lekgotla on Tuesday, the country was plunged into Stage 5 and 6 power cuts after several units broke down.

“In the last 24 hours, six generating units have suffered breakdowns, of which a unit each at Duvha and Hendrina have not yet returned to service. In addition, a generating unit each at Matla and Arnot had been returned to service,” Eskom said.

Stage 5 rolling blackouts were[implemented](https://ewn.co.za/0001/01/01/power-alert-sa-plunged-into-stage-5-load-shedding-until-further-notice) from noon on Tuesday, and will continue until 9pm. Stage 6 will then kick in until 5am on Wednesday, after which Stage 5 will continue until further notice.

The power utility said 4,654MW is out due to planned maintenance, while breakdowns currently amount to 18,123MW of generating capacity.

> [#PowerAlert1](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PowerAlert1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> Stage 5 loadshedding will be implemented from 12:00 this afternoon until 21:00 tonight. Thereafter Stage 6 loadshedding will be implemented until 05:00 tomorrow morning. [pic.twitter.com/paXJzdGJfw](https://t.co/paXJzdGJfw)
>
> — Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom\_SA) [January 31, 2023](https://twitter.com/Eskom_SA/status/1620358353976430595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The power crisis was high on the ANC National Executive Committee’s (NEC) agenda at its lekgotla at Esselen Park in Ekurhuleni over the weekend, according to Mbalula, where it heeded [growing calls for the crisis to be declared a National State of Disaster](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-30-government-is-considering-declaring-sas-rolling-blackouts-a-national-state-of-disaster-says-ramaphosa/).

*Read in*Daily Maverick:[*“State of Disaster must be clearly defined and subject to transparent parliamentary oversight, say political parties"*](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-31-state-of-disaster-must-be-clearly-defined-and-subject-to-transparent-parliamentary-oversight-say-political-parties/)

“In solving the energy crisis, the NEC lekgotla encouraged \[President Cyril Ramaphosa\] to declare a National State of Disaster, which will also require that the ANC reconnects with our communities and society, as the ANC does not have the monopoly of ideas,” said Mbalula.

![ANC’s secretary general, Fikile Mbalula, is briefs members of the media at its headquarters, Luthuli House, on the outcomes of the lekgotla on 31 January 2023.Photo: ANC DIP](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/VWbB48ygRReVdSBM50ge1KAVIbM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Tori-anc-lekgotla-presser2.jpeg)

*ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula briefs the media at Luthuli House on 31 January 2023. (Photo: ANC DIP)*

A National State of Disaster would help the government to “move with speed”, he added.

The lekgotla had also called for the acceleration of the Energy Action Plan and the Just Energy Transition, as proposed by the National Energy Crisis Committee, “such that there is no load shedding by the end of the year”.

“In meeting this objective, the NEC agreed that all measures should be taken to protect, rebuild and save Eskom.” **DM**

[Media: "ANC Statement on the Outcomes of National Executive Committee and Nec Lekgotla, Held From 27-30 January 2023"](https://www.scribd.com/embeds/622932378/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-cWBsCapeYgcpXcZSYlDW)