Eskom has announced the downgrading of the rolling power cuts from Wednesday but has warned that it will take weeks before the system recovers to pre-strike levels.
Businesses and households across the country have been hard-hit by stage 6 power cuts, which were implemented due to energy losses blamed on a wildcat strike at Eskom.
Stage 5 blackouts will be implemented from 4pm this afternoon until 10pm.
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said that several factors would influence the further easing of the planned outages.