Power crisis escalates as Eskom implements Stage 4 load shedding Updated Nushera Soodyal Share this: Eskom has ramped up load shedding, moving the rolling blackouts to Stage 4 from 2pm on Wednesday until 10pm. AFP Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha says the increase is due to the an increase in breakdowns at it's Medupi and Duvha power stations. Mantshantsha says it's also due to the high demand due to the cold weather. "This is in order to ration the remaining emergency generation reserves, which have been depleted. These emergency reserves are required to respond to further emergencies in order to maintain the stability of the national grid.