The generators have arrived in South Africa but will be officially received on Thursday by Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

“The generators will be used as backup to alleviate the impacts of load shedding in the delivery of services in clinics, schools and courts,” the presidency said on Tuesday.

The donation is part of the Technical Assistance Programme that China and South Africa signed during August's BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

In the deal, China deal promised to donate emergency equipment worth 167m rand ($8.9m; £7m) and a development grant of 500m rand.

South Africa has struggled with power cuts, referred to as load-shedding, in recent years, causing much frustration.

Millions of people are without lights every day - sometimes for up to 10 hours - in cities and towns across South Africa.