Gauteng Braces for Week-Long Load Reduction as Eskom Tries to Save Strained Infrastructure

Illegal connections and damaged infrastructure push Eskom to cut power, here’s how it affects your area this week.

If you live in Gauteng, you may want to dig out your candles and fully charge your devices. Eskom has announced that load reduction will be implemented across the province from Monday, 21 July to Sunday, 27 July, targeting areas under severe strain from illegal connections and overburdened power infrastructure.

This isn’t your usual load shedding. It’s a more targeted strategy, focused on protecting Eskom’s transformers and mini-substations, which are taking major hits in high-theft zones. And if you’re in one of these affected communities, the lights may be out for up to six hours a day.

Why Load Reduction and Not Load Shedding?

While most of South Africa is used to scheduled load shedding to balance national demand, load reduction is slightly different and more localised. Eskom uses this tool specifically in areas where infrastructure is overwhelmed due to illegal electricity connections and theft.

“Continued pressure on our transformers and mini-substations due to illegal connections in some areas necessitates load reduction,” Eskom explained, adding that it’s the only way to avoid permanent equipment damage and extended blackouts.

Morning Blackouts: Who’s Affected and When

Expect power outages from 5am to 9am in the following areas:

• Orange Farm and extensions

• Sharpeville

• Mabopane

• Ga-Rankuwa

• Winterveldt

• Sebokeng extensions

• Katlehong Heights

These are traditionally high-demand periods, as people prepare for work or school, cook breakfast, or power up businesses.

Evening Outages: A Tough Time for Families

Evenings don’t get any easier. From 5pm to 10pm, load reduction will hit:

• Thabiso

• Spruit View

• Orlando East

• Diepkloof

• Cuba

• Graceland

• Havana

• Lakeside

• Palm Springs

• Protea Glen

• Meadowlands

• Vosloorus

• Kagiso

This time slot is particularly frustrating for many households, as it overlaps with dinner, school homework, and peak family time.

Social Media Reaction: ‘We Pay, Yet We Sit in the Dark’

Understandably, residents are fed up. Social media has exploded with frustration:

“How are we expected to survive this? We pay for electricity and still sit in the dark because of theft,” tweeted one Diepkloof resident.

“It’s like Eskom punishes the honest ones,” another posted from Palm Springs.

Many are calling for better enforcement and crackdowns on illegal connections instead of cutting off power to entire neighbourhoods.

A Bigger Problem Than Just Lights

The recurring load reductions speak to a deeper, more systemic issue, South Africa’s ongoing battle with electricity theft and ageing infrastructure. While Eskom is clear that these cuts are a stop-gap to prevent equipment failure, the lack of long-term resolution is wearing thin.

Small businesses and informal traders are especially hard-hit, with many unable to operate effectively during peak hours. The loss of productivity, combined with already tough economic conditions, makes the power cuts more than just an inconvenience, they’re becoming a threat to livelihoods.

What Can You Do?

Eskom encourages residents in affected areas to:

• Check the official load reduction schedule to plan around outages.

• Avoid overloading circuits once power returns.

• Report electricity theft or illegal connections anonymously.

For those looking for real-time updates, Eskom’s mobile app and social media pages are the best sources.

There’s no word yet on when Eskom will be able to lift these restrictions or upgrade infrastructure in the hardest-hit communities. For now, load reduction is a necessary evil, but not a sustainable solution. Residents are urging authorities to fast-track intervention measures that focus on accountability, upgrades, and community partnerships to reduce illegal usage.

Until then, Gauteng continues to live by the glow of rechargeable lamps and hope for a brighter, more stable grid future.