Nine-hour power outage to hit parts of Gauteng and Soweto what Joburg residents need to know

Who will be affected

The power interruption will affect customers in parts of Soweto, specifically Jabavu, Klipspruit Ext 2, and Moroka. The outage is described as necessary to perform essential maintenance on distribution power lines.

Why the outage is happening

Eskom said the planned interruption is part of maintenance work on the distribution electricity network across the province. The utility emphasised that maintenance is essential to “service the infrastructure to ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the electricity supply.”

Safety advice and caveats

In the interest of safety, Eskom urged customers to treat all electrical appliances as live at all times during the power outage. The power utility also apologised for any inconvenience the maintenance may cause.

Eskom warned that “should circumstances beyond the control of Eskom arise, the planned electricity maintenance may not proceed as communicated.”

Additional note from the utility

The report notes Eskom recently celebrated 365 consecutive days without implementing load shedding.

What residents should do

• Plan around the confirmed outage window of 09:00–16:00 on 20 May.
• Treat appliances as live and exercise caution when power is off or being restored.
• Be aware that the maintenance may be changed if unforeseen circumstances occur.