Eskom is going to scale down loadshedding to Stage 3 as improved cold weather conditions have reduced demand, but blackouts are expected to continue into the weekend.

The power utility had on Wednesday upped rotational power cuts to Stage 4, plunging the country into long hours of blackouts that have affected homes and businesses which are still battling the crippling effect of the Covid-19 lockdown. 

"Eskom will reduce loadshedding to Stage 3 starting at 08:00 until 22:00 tomorrow," the company said in an update.

The power producer warned that its system "remains unreliable and vulnerable" - although engineers had successfully returned generation units at Tutuka, Matla, Majuba and Camden power stations.

But two other units have subsequently suffered breakdowns, with unplanned breakdowns now at 11 185MW of capacity, adding to the 5 040MW currently out on planned maintenance, according to the company.

Eskom had previously said that the cuts were needed to prevent the nationwide collapse of the power system. Last week, Camden power station returned online after a four-month service shutdown.

*Compiled by Sibongile Khumalo