Lights Out for Zonkezizwe: Eskom’s 8-Hour Power Cut This Friday

Zonkezizwe residents are bracing for a long, electricity-free Friday as Eskom switches off the power for essential maintenance.

What’s happening and where

If you live in Zonkezizwe Zones 1 through 5, make sure your phone is charged, your kettle’s been boiled and dinner plans are sorted before Friday morning. Eskom has confirmed that from 8:30am to 6pm on 15 August, the lights will be out while crews work on the distribution network.

The utility says the maintenance is critical to keep the power lines in safe, working order. In other words, this isn’t just about fixing a fault, it’s about preventing future breakdowns.

But it might not go as planned

Before you start reorganising your whole day, there’s a twist: Eskom has warned that the work could be delayed or cancelled if “circumstances beyond its control” pop up. So while the outage is on the schedule, it’s not set in stone.

Safety first

Eskom is urging everyone to treat all electrical outlets and appliances as if they’re live during the outage. That means don’t go fiddling with plugs or wires just because the lights are off, electricity can return without warning.

How to get help or updates

If you need clarity or an update on the work, Eskom has a few ways to reach them:

• MyEskom Customer app (downloadable on smartphones)

• WhatsApp: 0860 037 566

• USSD: Dial 12037356#

• Alfred Chatbot on Eskom’s platforms

• Eskom Contact Centre: 0860 037 566 (available 24 hours)

The bigger picture

Planned outages like this may be a headache, but they’re a different beast from the dreaded load shedding. This is about fixing and upgrading, something communities across Gauteng have been demanding for years. Still, with many residents juggling work-from-home setups, school projects and everyday living, a full day without power is bound to sting.

The advice from locals? Charge everything, prep your meals and maybe line up a visit to a friend in a different zone for the day.

{Source: IOL}

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