The rotational power cuts are expected to last until 23:00.

The power utility instituted stage 1 load shedding on Thursday morning, and upgraded this to stage 2 power cuts in the afternoon. Load shedding ended at 22:45 on Thursday.

Thursday's power cuts were caused by plant breakdowns, which resulted in an imbalance between electricity supply and demand, according to the power utility's spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe. 

Stage 1 load shedding allows for 1000 MW to be cut from the national grid to protect the country's power system from total collapse. 

fin24

#PowerAlert 1
Date: 15 March 2019

Eskom implements Stage 2 rotational loadshedding @CityPowerJhb @City_Ekurhuleni @SABCNewsOnline @CityTshwane @eThekwiniM @CityofCT @IOL @News24 @TheCitizen_News @Radio702 @JacaNews @SowetanLIVE @Loadshedding_SA pic.twitter.com/tFpar2fDF0

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) March 15, 2019