SOUTH AFRICA IMPOSES SEVERE POWER CUTS AHEAD OF ELECTION

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa on Monday introduced its most severe electricity rationing in nearly five years, presenting President Cyril Ramaphosa with a major political challenge just months ahead of the May election.

The debt-laden state power utility Eskom is at the centre of the country’s economic troubles and has been hit by allegations of government graft.

Ramaphosa last week admitted that “Eskom is in crisis and the risks it poses to South Africa are great.” Offices, shops, factories, traffic lights and private homes were hit on Monday by “loadshedding” -- scheduled power cuts to reduce usage.

The cuts were categorised as “stage 4”, the highest severity level since March 2014.

“The power system is severely constrained, which is why after a long time we have had to implement stage 4 of load shedding,” Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said.

“Since this morning we have unexpectedly lost six additional generating units which have put additional strain on the system,” the company said in a statement.

Ramaphosa last week vowed to fight mismanagement and corruption at the utility, which has 419 billion rand ($30 billion) debt, by dividing it into generation, transmission and distribution divisions.

The country heads for polls on May 8, with the ruling ANC party keen to repair a fall in popularity in recent years.

— AFP