Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
10 February 2026

📷 Eskom’s load shedding relief continues, but analyst Chris Yelland warns load reduction, rising tariffs and future risks are still on the table.

South Africans have experienced months of little to no load shedding, bringing welcome relief after years of severe power cuts. However, energy analyst Chris Yelland has warned that the current stability should not be mistaken for a permanent fix, as risks remain in both the short and medium term.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Yelland said while load shedding has “effectively come to an end”, another form of outages continues to affect many communities, particularly poorer areas.

“There’s another form of outages called load reduction, and this predominantly affects the poor,” he explained. Load reduction is often implemented in areas facing “high levels of theft and non-payment and overloading of distribution networks.”

From the customer’s perspective, Yelland noted, “load shedding feels the same as load reduction,” meaning many households still experience power interruptions despite Eskom’s improved performance.

He also highlighted that distribution outages caused by theft and vandalism remain a daily reality in some regions. These include “theft of copper and cable,” illegal connections, and even “stealing of steel from pylons causing pylons to fall over.”

While acknowledging the progress, Yelland cautioned against complacency. “We need to do the right thing all the time,” he said, warning that reverting to “bad old ways” could bring South Africa back to the crisis levels seen in recent years.

Yelland further stressed that Eskom itself has warned of future risks. He said the utility is indicating that “the risk of load shedding in 2029 and 2030 is high,” suggesting the current stability may not hold unless sustained reforms and investments continue.

He credited Eskom’s improved position partly to stronger performance at coal-fired power stations. “There has been a significant performance improvement in Eskom’s fleet,” he said, adding that credit should go not only to leadership but also “throughout the organisation and down in the power stations.”

However, he said Eskom’s turnaround is also linked to private sector intervention. “The private sector has brought on massive new renewable energy and battery energy storage,” which has reduced pressure on Eskom’s generation fleet.

A third factor is declining demand for Eskom electricity. Yelland said demand has dropped due to rising tariffs and “demand destruction,” including the closure of major energy-intensive industries. “About 50% of the smelting industry has been closed or mothballed,” he noted.

On renewables, Yelland said South Africa’s direction is clear: “The only game in town is wind and solar and battery energy storage.”

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Chris Yelland.