In a significant stride for South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded the African National Congress (ANC) for its role in resolving the nation’s enduring electricity load-shedding issues. Highlighting a milestone of more than 460 consecutive days without national power disruptions, Ramaphosa attributed this achievement to enhanced electricity production and improved oversight within Eskom, the country’s state-owned power utility.
During the ANC’s manifesto launch for the upcoming local government elections on November 4, Ramaphosa emphasized the strides made in South Africa’s energy sector. The president pointed to the efforts of Eskom, noting that since May 16, 2025, the country has been free from load shedding. This progress, he explained, is largely due to better performance from power stations and a reduction in unplanned outages, underscoring a notable recovery in the national grid.
Despite these advances, challenges remain in some areas. Certain communities are still experiencing load reduction, a strategy employed to safeguard local electricity networks from becoming overloaded. Ramaphosa acknowledged these ongoing difficulties, particularly in the regions of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, but expressed optimism that these issues would eventually be resolved, leading to the elimination of load reduction across the nation.
The ANC’s efforts, Ramaphosa suggested, have been pivotal in addressing what has long been a critical concern for South Africa’s infrastructure and economic stability. As the country approaches the local elections, these improvements in energy provision are likely to be a focal point in the ANC’s campaign, reflecting the broader impact of sustained governance reforms on daily life for South Africans.