---
title: "Eskom announces Stage 2 load shedding without any notice"
description: "Eskom implemented Stage 2 load shedding at short notice on Wednesday night, 19 March. Eskom said it would suspend it again at 5am on Thursday, 20 March."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "NEWSFLASH"
author: "Daily Maverick"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/dailymaverick/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-03-19-eskom-announces-stage-2-load-shedding-without-any-notice/"
published: "2025-03-19T20:08:16"
updated: "2025-03-19T20:08:22"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 191
---

# Eskom announces Stage 2 load shedding without any notice

> Eskom implemented Stage 2 load shedding at short notice on Wednesday night, 19 March. Eskom said it would suspend it again at 5am on Thursday, 20 March.

By Daily Maverick · Published 19 March 2025, 22:08 SAST · Updated 19 March 2025, 22:08 SAST

## Key points
- Eskom's latest load shedding escapade, sparked by the unexpected retirement of five generation units, has left South Africans in the dark—literally and metaphorically—while the DA calls for an energy revolution to rescue us from this ongoing blackout ballet.
- Eskom announces Stage 2 load shedding due to loss of five generation units, effective until 5:00 AM.
- Planned maintenance prioritised to enhance system reliability ahead of winter, with calls for public to conserve electricity.
- DA's Kevin Mileham criticises loadshedding as an economic emergency, urging for a competitive energy market.
- Mileham demands immediate unbundling of Eskom to address ongoing electricity supply failures in South Africa.

## Content

“While we have made notable progress in our generation recovery efforts, Eskom faced the loss of five generation units before the peak period. Consequently, Stage 2 load shedding was implemented at 18:25 and will remain in effect until 5:00 tomorrow,” said Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena.

“We continue to prioritise planned maintenance to strengthen system reliability ahead of the winter months, while ensuring adherence to environmental and licensing conditions. In light of the ongoing system constraints, we urge the public to use electricity sparingly,” said Mokwena.

Kevin Mileham, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on electricity and energy, said the unannounced return of load shedding is seen as “an emergency act that will bring more economic devastation and will leave families across our country in turmoil tonight”.

“This shows the incontrovertible need for a competitive energy generation market,” said Mileham.

He called for Eskom's “immediate horizontal unbundling to break its monopoly and end its ongoing failure to meet South Africa's electricity needs”.

“South Africa needs new generation capacity to be built now.”

Daily Maverick will continue to update this story should the situation change. **DM**