Residents of several Johannesburg suburbs are expected to experience planned electricity outages lasting up to eight hours this week. These scheduled load-shedding measures are part of ongoing efforts by Eskom and the City of Johannesburg to manage electricity demand and maintain the stability of the national power grid.
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Areas Affected and Schedule
The outages will affect multiple suburbs across Johannesburg, including parts of Sandton, Roodepoort, Randburg, and Alexandra. According to the City of Johannesburg’s official load-shedding schedule, affected areas will experience power interruptions lasting approximately eight hours on designated days between 7 and 11 July 2025.
Residents are advised to consult the City’s website or Eskom’s load-shedding app for precise timings and updates, as schedules may vary depending on grid conditions.
Reasons for the Outages
Eskom, South Africa’s primary electricity supplier, has been facing persistent challenges with ageing infrastructure and maintenance backlogs. To prevent unplanned blackouts and protect the grid from collapse, Eskom implements load-shedding — controlled power cuts distributed across regions.
The current round of scheduled outages aims to balance supply and demand during peak usage periods, especially as winter months increase electricity consumption due to heating needs.
Impact on Households and Businesses
Planned outages of this duration can disrupt daily routines and business operations. Households are encouraged to prepare by:
- Charging essential devices in advance
- Using alternative heating and lighting sources safely
- Minimising electricity use during peak outage times
Businesses, especially those reliant on continuous power, should consider backup solutions such as generators or uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) to mitigate losses.
City of Johannesburg and Eskom Response
The City of Johannesburg has assured residents that it is working closely with Eskom to minimise the impact of load-shedding. Efforts include:
- Prioritising critical services such as hospitals and emergency response units
- Providing timely communication and updates on outage schedules
- Encouraging energy-saving measures among consumers
Eskom continues to invest in maintenance and new generation capacity, but load-shedding remains necessary until the power system stabilises.
Affected Areas and Scheduled Dates
City Power has announced a series of planned interruptions across various parts of Johannesburg from Tuesday, 8 July, to Sunday, 13 July 2025 . Residents and businesses in the affected areas should prepare for these extended power cuts.
| Date | Time | Substation | Affected Areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, 8 July | 9am to 5pm (8 hours) | Harry Galaun Switching Station | Elias Road, Parts of Langeveld, Sections of Berger Street |
| Thursday, 10 July | 8am to 4pm (8 hours) | Soweto Substation | Doornkop residential zones, Doornkop local police station, Doornkop military facilities, Santa facility, BP Garage vicinity |
| Thursday, 10 July | 9am to 5pm (8 hours) | Harry Galaun Switching Station | Pretorius Street and Barbara Road (Johannesburg CBD) |
| Sunday, 13 July | 9am to 5pm (8 hours) | Westfield Substation | East Bank and Far East Bank areas |
| Thursday, 3 July | 9am to 5pm (8 hours) | Houtkoppen Substation | Noordhang (Dexter Road) |
| Friday, 4 July | 9am to 5pm (8 hours) | Randburg Substation | Ferndale (West Avenue) |
How to Stay Informed
Residents can stay informed about load-shedding schedules and updates through the following channels:
- Eskom website: https://www.eskom.co.za
- Local news outlets and social media platforms
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Stay Prepared
The planned eight-hour electricity outages across Johannesburg suburbs this week are a necessary measure to safeguard South Africa’s power grid. While inconvenient, these controlled interruptions help prevent more severe and prolonged blackouts. Residents and businesses are encouraged to prepare accordingly and stay updated through official channels.
