Cape Town plans contingencies against more loadshedding as power crisis worsens

The City of Cape Town is pulling out all the stops to protect residents in the event Eskom implements Stage 8 loadshedding. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said during Stage 8 loadshedding, half the metro would be left without power at any given time – at least 12 hours a day. "The City has already activated its disaster operational centre to coordinate the current impact of sustained high stages of loadshedding. In the event of Stage 8 or higher, the DOC responsibilities will be extended to maintaining the operations of essential services – water, electricity, health, waste and transport," he said. Hill-Lewis added that the DOC would also secure critical societal systems, such as food and fuel supply chains. "DOC will also be responsible for supporting the safety and security cluster – coordinating with SAPS, Crime Intelligence and role players in the justice, crime prevention and security cluster – [and] ensuring communications and awareness initiatives are up to date, accurate and informative," he said.