The Citizen reports that Eskom chief executive André de Ruyter confirmed on Thursday that 21 of the company’s employees and contractors had tested positive for Covid-19 cases in the Western Cape.  

During a virtual media briefing on the “state of the system”, De Ruyter said those who had tested positive for the virus were receiving the best treatment possible.  In addition, the state-owned power utility said there would be only an 80% chance of just three days of load shedding over the winter.  Thirty days were predicted earlier in the year, with the improvement a result of the utility being given an opportunity to do short-term maintenance due to the huge slowdown in the economy brought about by the coronavirus lockdown.  The CEO covered a number of challenges faced by the power utility.  Regarding the Covid-19 measures taken by Eskom, De Ruyter said the utility had put in place contingency plans for its facilities in order to ensure they could operate under a variety of different scenarios.  “We have made available the Eskom Academy of Learning in Midrand to the department of health to be used as a quarantine facility.  We have been producing hand sanitisers, assisting in the development of ventilators and manufacturing of masks,” he added.

• Read the full original of the informative report in the above regard by Molefe Seeletsa at The Citizen

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