Cape Town - "WTF is Stage 6?"
This was the common reaction shared by many South Africans on Monday evening when Eskom implemented Stage 6 load shedding for the first time.
The extensive power cuts came after Eskom started the day with Stage 2 load shedding, before moving to Stage 4 at around 10am, and ending with the announcement that Stage 6 would kick in at 6pm.
"We regret and sincerely apologise that stage 4 loadshedding will move to Stage 6 loadshedding as from 18:00 today, as a result of a shortage of capacity. This follows a technical problem at Medupi Power Station impacting additional generation supply. The heavy rains has caused coal handling and operational problems at several power stations," Eskom said.
"Stage 6 requires 6000MW to be rotationally loadshed."
Many South Africans took to social media in disbelief that Stage 6 had been implemented, as well as sharing their confusion as many of their apps and only had information on load shedding stages 1-4.
In typical fashion, South Africans dealt with their frustrations the only way they knew how - humour:
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Stage6?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Stage6Loadshedding? pic.twitter.com/bHwYd1QiwZ
β Marco Cocomello (@Cocomelts)
Wtf is stage 6 load shedding π
— az (@azraa_v) December 9, 2019
undefinedWTF even is load shedding stage 6???
— Steven Tu βπΎBLM π₯ACAB (@Tuism) December 9, 2019
Iβm expecting a boss fight at stage 10.
this group of white girls in front of me are talking about how load shedding isn't even that bad because "regardless of stage 4 or 6 we don't even feel it by us, there's really no difference" and walahi I'm about to rol ππππ
— fatimaβ· (@fatimasvogue) December 10, 2019
Johannesburg views before and after Eskom implements Stage 6 load shedding π . pic.twitter.com/MfaKaLnHTC
— Amil Umraw (@Amil_Umraw) December 9, 2019
Stage 6 is a reminder that load shedding has more stages than your relationship.
— Koshiek Karan (@iamkoshiek) December 9, 2019
undefinedAll the babies born during stage 6 load shedding are gonna grow in to Bane.
— LABron J4mes (@TefoWritesStuff) December 9, 2019
Can someone please tell me what to expect for Stage 6 load shedding and also what happened to Stage 5? Do I need to worry about Eskom's numeracy skills as well?
— This is a stan (@Shamz04) December 9, 2019
Eskom employees beating your ass for lighting candles at stage 6 load shedding. pic.twitter.com/Gaae8wewVA
— MrsYumyanHammerpaw (@SiveDaniels) December 9, 2019
Stage 6 load shedding is when the light in Tony Stark's chest goes out.
— Boogaloo Shrimp (@Rilez31) December 9, 2019
rugby world cup: won
— lylesyn (@_lylesyn) December 9, 2019
miss universe: crowned
stage 6 load shedding: unlocked
festive: π₯΄
Stage 6 Load Shedding. π€‘ pic.twitter.com/6CM3Slf7jK
— Mohale Motaung (@mohale_motaung) December 9, 2019
Stage 6 load shedding is where I listen to Sparks by Coldplay in memory of the light that once was
— Nazeer Erasmus (@NazeerErasmus) December 9, 2019
Stage 6 load shedding ? Might as well put the sun off π
— rebecca henderson (@hendo_becca) December 9, 2019
Lmfao the App that I have wasnβt configured to include stage 6 load shedding, e fella ka 5
— petyr πΌ (@Tlharantlhope_) December 9, 2019
Thoughts and prayers to the providers of load shedding alert apps desperately trying to figure out what the fuck stage 6 is while buckling under sudden demand.
— Panda (@geoff_ink) December 9, 2019
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/EskomBlackouts?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EskomBlackoutshappen right in the middle of my cut. pic.twitter.com/fkl4CQRyqb
β Lovethelibra2 (@lovethelibra)
We really jumped from stage 4 to stage 6 loadshedding over night? π
— Peachie (@_Soulstress) December 10, 2019
Good morning survivors of Stage 6. Ni right? pic.twitter.com/sRs0EvBWmZ
— Ndavhe Ramakuela (@ndavher) December 10, 2019
Stage 8 load shedding is when even the sun will not rise upon South Africa.
— M'khuzeni ningahleki (@jabu1ani) December 10, 2019
We are at fault for putting a capitalist at the helm of our country, what matters is him being rich and rich and rich
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Loadshedding?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Loadshedding #Stage6 pic.twitter.com/NTIobPkpB2
β Dumisani (@Dumisani_July)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Stage6?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Stage6 #Eskom #Loadshedding pic.twitter.com/pbLIf7U9Js
β Candy π (@TheRealFhumu_M)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Stage6?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Stage6 pic.twitter.com/wJJTxasOWr
β Bazil the Bulldog (@BaziltheBulldog)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/stage6loadshedding?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stage6loadshedding #Eskom #medupi #stage6 pic.twitter.com/ZqDfAfFOE9
β Henzo (@FelizMcChanj)
Aii they can skip Stage 6 and go straight to Stage 92,at this point I don't care anymore pic.twitter.com/rvFbwQG9ck
— H O P E Yπ (@Shes_fair) December 9, 2019
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Loadshedding?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Loadshedding #stage6 #eskom pic.twitter.com/tF8EgE7NV7
β James Vermont (@JamesVermont1)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/stage6?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stage6just like that from Stage 4 does that mean that it can go to Stage 8 and activate The Purge? #eskom pic.twitter.com/8i4lq0IUD5
β The Wolfman πΊ (@Spenelo)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Stage6?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Stage6loadshedding from #EskomππΎββοΈat this point they'll be drawing energy from our relationships pic.twitter.com/C00xndVqEP
β π Kelly πΉ (@KellyBuys7)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Loadshedding?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Loadshedding #stage6loadshedding https://t.co/kprhN6lN3k
β π¨ππ πππ β§*:.ｑ. (@LIBRAMO0N)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZoziTunzi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZoziTunzito ask if her prize can be a power station? We need a practical prize fam! #stage6loadshedding #stage6 pic.twitter.com/rYKgrtNODc
β Scelo Nciki (@Scubakae1)