Up to five hours of darkness expected

Gauteng braces for load reduction power cuts: Up to five hours of darkness expected

Zuko Komisa

Gauteng is facing Eskom load reduction power cuts this week, with outages expected to last up to five hours in some areas during peak demand.
The scheduled power cuts will affect numerous regions, including parts of the City of Johannesburg, Garankuwa, and Soshanguve, under a seven-day rotational schedule.
Morning interruptions (5 am–9 am) will last four hours, while evening cuts (5 pm–10 pm) may extend up to five hours, prompting residents to prepare for the disruption.

Gauteng residents and businesses are being urged to prepare for significant disruption this week as Eskom rolls out its load reduction schedule, with power outages potentially lasting up to five hours in some areas.

The power utility has confirmed that multiple regions across the province will experience scheduled power cuts, primarily targeting peak electricity demand hours. Crucially, the duration and specific times of the outages will vary by location, operating on a seven-day rotational basis designed to offer residents a measure of predictability.

Morning and evening disruptions confirmed

The schedule details two distinct periods for the power cuts:

Morning Load Reduction (5:00 am – 9:00 am): This four-hour interruption will hit several areas, including parts of the City of Johannesburg’s supply zones such as Tsakane, Rietvlei, Moroka, Kliepsruit, and Chiawelo. Other regions affected during the early hours are Magagula Heights, Cosmo City, Protea North, and various surrounding settlements across Gauteng.
Evening Load Reduction (5:00 pm – 10:00 pm): A longer, five-hour cut is scheduled for the evening peak. Areas facing darkness during this time include Garankuwa, Mavimbela, Zuma, Nhlapo, and surrounding zones.

Broad list of affected areas

The power reduction measures will be widely felt across the province. Additional zones due to be impacted include Stredford, Sharpeville, Doornkraal, Sebokeng, and Evaton Central, along with their various extensions.

Specific communities scheduled to experience outages under this week’s rotation are:

Hebron
Orange Farm
Zonkolol
Katlehong South
Kopanong
Moletsane
Tladi
Tshepiso
Drumblade AH
Soshanguve
Ivory Park
Rabie Ridge
Stretford

Eskom advises all customers to consult the official load reduction schedule for the precise times applicable to their area to ensure maximum preparedness for the impending power interruptions.