On June 01, 2023 the city of Cape Town load-shedding events will cover Stage 5 to 6 power distribution in Eskom’s nationwide networks although the city is not as affected as other areas. As it is, Eskom controls only 25% of the power supply derived by Cape Town from the Mpumalanga power station. The city government maintains the right to distribute 75% of electricity supplied by the power plant throughout the city’s network of electricity consumers; especially in the West Cape area.
How Will Eskom’s June Load Shedding Schedule Affect Eskom Businesses
The branding of the June 2023 load shedding events in South Africa as Stage 5 and 6, will have up to 4.5 of power interruptions for 8 days at the least; or until the problematic power plants have been restored to normal operations.
Yet a closer look at the load shedding schedule for Cape Town, indicates that the city will have up to 2.5 hours only. Since the power outages will shift to Stage 6 any day soon, South Africans can expect outages not included in the pre-published load shedding schedules.
Cape Town Officials and Leaders Want 100% Control Over Electricity Supply
Fortunately for Cape Town businesses and residents, the city cannot be without electrical power for long periods. Chiefly because the city and the West Cape area are home to many tech giants and an array of emerging software innovators. Big and small entrepreneurial startups have been making successful bids across a broad range of industries using computer technology and AI supported solutions.
Although Cape Town businesses and middle and upper class residents maintain a secondary source of electrical power, Eskom’s limited access to Cape Town’s power supply is part of an agreement between the city government, and the government-owned national power plant. Such an agreement has been critical to the retention and growth of big businesses in the city. Cape Town after all, is home to several computer and digital technology behemoths in the likes of Google, Oracle, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Bloomberg, which is just to mention a few.
The city proper itself boasts of 80 IT and Telecommunication businesses, taking up offices in 16 buildings that provide co-working spaces. There are 78 educational institutions that provide training and knowledge to future software innovators.
Eskom cannot exploit the city’s power supply for its power distribution schemes. Apparently, this government-owned entity has been investing on cheap, short-term solutions in maintaining the power plants. That being the case, the infrastructure problems causing the power crises have been recurring frequently.
Nevertheless, the city government is steadfast in keeping the following areas out of Eskom’s load shedding schedules:
1. Melomed Gatsville the largest private hospital in Cape Town, which provides the clinical offices for more than 50 specialists offering a broad range of topnotch medical services.
2. The Tygerberg Hospital in Parow, the largest hospital in the city and the second largest in South Africa.
3. Bellville Central Business Dstrict in which Telkom, an international data centre, as well as several state and private hospitals are located.