Eskom Confirms 5–6 Hour Power Cuts Across Gauteng: What You Need to Know

For many Gauteng residents, the flicker of lights going out has become a frustratingly familiar part of daily life. This week, Eskom has confirmed that scheduled load reduction will continue across the province, with some households and businesses facing power cuts lasting up to six hours at a time.

The planned outages, which Eskom says are necessary to manage demand and protect the grid, will run from Monday, 8 September to Sunday, 14 September 2025.

Where and When the Lights Will Go Out

The cuts are spread across both morning and evening peak hourswhen usage is at its highest.

• Morning outages (5am–9am): Dobsonville, Naledi, Wattville, Etwatwa, Mathibestad, Sebokeng, Beverly Hills East, Boitumelo, and Evaton.

• Evening outages (5pm–10pm): Mabopane, Rabie Ridge, Duduza, Protea Glen, Westonaria, Vereeniging Sharpville, Daveyton, Orange Farm, and several surrounding extensions.

Additional affected areas this week include Diepsloot, Katlehong, Garankuwa, Odenburg Gardens, Meadowlands, Winterveldt, Emndeni, Spruit View, Zonkizizwe, and Mabuya.

The schedule runs on a seven-day rotation, which at least allows households to plan around the outagesthough it doesn’t soften the blow for those who rely on steady electricity for work or healthcare.

More Than Just an Inconvenience

For families, it means waking up in the dark to prepare children for school or eating dinner by candlelight. For small businesses, especially spaza shops and salons, it’s lost income they can’t afford.

South Africans have taken to social media to vent their frustration. On X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote: “We don’t need reminders anymore. We know when it’s supper time, Eskom also joins us at the tablewith no electricity.” Another joked that power cuts are now a “free romantic package” since many couples end up eating by candlelight several times a week.

Why Load Reduction, Not Load Shedding?

While most South Africans are used to the dreaded term “load shedding,” Eskom says this is specifically load reductiontargeting certain high-demand areas to reduce strain on the grid. Historically, load reduction has been introduced in communities where illegal connections and overloading cause localised failures.

Still, for the average household, the difference is academic. Lights are off, stoves don’t work, and Wi-Fi cuts out.

Coping Strategies That Locals Rely On

Over time, many Gauteng residents have developed routines to cope. From stocking up on rechargeable lights and power banks, to cooking meals earlier in the day, the electricity crisis has shaped daily life. Businesses are increasingly investing in inverters, solar panels, and generators, though these remain unaffordable for most working-class households.

A Crisis That Feels Endless

Eskom has not indicated when load reduction will ease, only that it is “necessary to protect the integrity of the network.” But for many South Africans, this feels like yet another chapter in a crisis that has stretched on for years.

As one Johannesburg resident commented online: “We’ve learned to live around power cuts, but it’s not living. It’s surviving.”

To check if your neighbourhood is on this week’s list, Eskom has provided a downloadable Load-reduction-schedule-GAUTENG-SEPT-2025-1 on its website.