During a media briefing on Tuesday, it was revealed that additional stages are in place as a contingency measure to ensure the operability and integrity of the power system.

South African Twitter users responded to the news with customary humour, quickly putting together reaction memes to try to find humour in the face of a dark prospect.

Eskom: *implements stage 5 and Stage 6*
Us: What the hell is stage 5 and Stage 6?

Eskom: pic.twitter.com/YP9RCqthx9

— big head (@SlooPhaho) March 19, 2019

#"STAGE 5 AND STAGE 6"

A rare video of an Eskom Exec heading to the Main switch ???????? pic.twitter.com/1gH2friee5

— Goddess of Wisdom (@zieyawa) March 19, 2019

"Stage 5 and Stage 6" pic.twitter.com/ZfT9FGz3UT

— Lorch4PlayerofTheSeason (@SfiSomnandi) March 19, 2019

It has now been reported that during stage 5 and stage 6 loadshedding Eskom is switching off car batteries too. pic.twitter.com/3Sv6Ui2eLh

— KazeKaze (@SBuddha_Kaze) March 19, 2019

After stage 5 and stage 6
We'll see stage 7 live???????? pic.twitter.com/BeJe7du8qf

— Tshiamo (@Tshiamo_MAC) March 19, 2019

Stage 5 and Stage 6

God: Let there be light....

Eskom: Liiiiiiiiight? pic.twitter.com/7Qq9FHAUrP

— Makua Bt (@Makua_BT) March 19, 2019

No One:

Eskom : implements stage 5 and Stage 6
Us: What the hell is stage 5 and Stage 6

Eskom: pic.twitter.com/2cy6njle80

— Nwa-Mfezi (@Nwa_Hlayiseka) March 19, 2019

#Eskom #LoadShedding Stage 5 and Stage 6 be like this to South Africans. pic.twitter.com/AUd5DsId7k

— ANGELFACE ?? (@vocalAngel101) March 19, 2019

Hi I'm Shen Scott and I'm a photographer.

I took some portraits during the loadshedding.

Please RT my next client could be on your timeline. pic.twitter.com/iBxB3fljQS

— We take care of our community. (@Shen_Scott) March 19, 2019

eNCA