Power & Utilities

Power pressure returns as load reduction hits parts of Gauteng this week

Published

4 hours ago

February 2, 2026

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Power cuts return to parts of Gauteng

For many Gauteng residents, power planning has once again become part of the weekly routine. Eskom has confirmed that several areas across the province will experience load reduction this week, with outages scheduled during peak electricity demand periods.

Unlike rolling load shedding, load reduction is targeted at specific areas where electricity demand regularly exceeds network capacity. The goal, Eskom says, is to protect infrastructure and prevent wider system failures, even if it means predictable local disruptions.

On community WhatsApp groups and social media, the response has been a familiar mix of frustration and weary humour, with residents swapping schedules and backup-power tips like survival notes.

Morning and evening outages explained

According to Eskom’s official timetable, some communities will experience morning power interruptions between 5am and 9am. These include areas such as Dobsonville, Naledi, Mapetla, Protea South, Vryburg, Mabopane, Orange Farm and Nhlapo.

Other locations affected during the morning window include Tshongweni, Sharpeville, Stinkwater, Jabulani, Naledi and Vosloorus.

In the evenings, when electricity use typically spikes as households return home, load reduction is scheduled between 5pm and 10pm. Areas such as Dlamini, Khutsong, Tsakane, Rethabiseng, Diepsloot, Mathibestad and nearby communities will be impacted during this time.

Additional suburbs and townships expected to experience outages include Beverly Hills-East, Boitumelo, Evarton, Ruggratt, Etwatwa, Cuba and Graceland.

More areas on the rotation

Eskom has also listed Havanna, Lakeside, Jetta, Sebokeng, Moleleki, Emdeni, Tsakane, Mavimbela, Zola, Mokoena and Klipsruit among the zones affected during the week.

Outage durations vary, with some areas facing interruptions of up to four hours, while others may be without power for as long as five hours on certain days.

How the seven-day cycle works

The load reduction plan operates on a seven-day rotation, meaning different areas are affected on different days of the week. While disruptive, this system gives residents a degree of predictability, a small but important advantage for households, schools and businesses trying to plan ahead.

Eskom has urged residents to consult the official Gauteng load reduction schedule to confirm when their area is affected and to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

As pressure on the grid continues, load reduction remains one of Eskom’s key tools to manage demand during peak hours. For now, Gauteng residents are once again adjusting daily life around the power switch, hopeful, but prepared.