Power Cuts Hit South Africa

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South Africa's troubled power utility on Tuesday implemented power cuts nationwide, intensifying concern about growth in one of Africa's biggest economies.

State-owned Eskom said it took the measure, which followed similar cuts in recent days that disrupted businesses, as a "last resort to protect the power system from a total collapse or blackout."

Eskom attributed the rotational cuts, known as "loadshedding," to breakdowns at power generation plants and said teams are working to restore service. The restrictions were cutting 2,000 megawatts nationally between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m., the utility said.

While Eskom's problems are seen as a threat to the South African economy, the government delivered some good news on Tuesday. The economy grew by 2.2 percent in the third quarter of 2018, the state statistics agency said, meaning the recession recorded earlier this year has ended. Many economists predict growth for the year will be under 1 percent, reflecting further stagnation in a country with an official unemployment rate of more than 27 percent.

Debt-laden Eskom, which provides most of South Africa's electricity, is at the center of efforts by President Cyril Ramaphosa to rid state-owned enterprises of corruption and mismanagement after the scandal-tainted tenure of predecessor Jacob Zuma, who resigned in February.

Eskom heavily relies on coal to generate power, but says it faces shortages. It previously had procurement deals with mines that were being run by the Guptas, a business family with close ties to Zuma. The Guptas, who deny wrongdoing, are accused of trying to influence appointments of government officials as a way to loot state coffers. A South African commission is investigating allegations of large-scale corruption during the Zuma era.

Eskom has new leadership, but its debt is more than $30 billion