Eskom load shedding load reduction

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Eskom to implement load reduction in seven provinces on Saturday

Eskom will implement load reduction in the following districts between 17:00 and 22:00 on Saturday, 24 April.

Eskom load shedding load reduction

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Eskom announced on Saturday 24 April that load reduction will be implemented across South Africa once again to “avoid network overloading in high-density areas”.

Here’s what you need to know.

Eskom load reduction — Saturday 24 April

Load reduction will be implemented in the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and the North West between 17:00 and 22:00.

The power utility urges residents to switch off all electrical appliances during this time.

“Failure to do so may lead to transformer trips or failures, and damages to household appliances when supply is restored. Please do not report this outage”.

Gauteng

Eskom warned that load reduction will be implemented in Ivory Park and Soweto, due to the same issues as mentioned above. The following areas will be affected between 17:00 and 22:00:

Main areaSub areas
Ivory ParkIvory Park Ext 6, 7A and B, Ext 8 and 10, Kaalfointein Ext 7 Lindokuhle Ext 2,
Twelopele Ext 1 and Rabie Ridge
SowetoBram Fischerville, Dobsonville, Doornkop, Dube, Glen Ridge, Protea Glen,
Protea Industrial Park, Protea South, Meadowlands East Zone 1, 2, and 4,
Meadowlands West Zone 6, 7, 8 and 9, Mmesi Park, Mofolo North and Orlando.

Free State

Eskom urges residents to follow updates from the power utility’s social media accounts, and remind residents that these outages should not be reported. The following areas in Lejweleputswa District will be affected between 17:00 and 20:00:

Substation Feeder nameAreas affected in the Free State
Kutlwanong Charlie Overhead LinePart of Kutlwanong, Blocks 5, K3 and K7.

To avoid overloading the Eskom network and damage to our infrastructure in high-density areas that are prone to network overloading, Eskom will implement load reduction during the evening peak hours of Saturday”.

Mpumalanga

Eskom said it was “battling to keep up with the increased equipment failure caused by overloading” in the area. It’s currently costin the embattled power utility “millions to repair”.

Load reduction in Mpumalanga will only be implemented between 17:00 and 19:00 on Saturday 24 April. The following areas in the Ehlanzeni District will be affected:

  • Schoemansdal, Health Centre, Springs, Shangaanhill, Matengteng, Mandela, Garelane, Violent Bank, Rainbow, Majembeni, Shalden.
  • Arthurstone, Saselani, Khayalami, Xanthia
  • Mandulo, Kahhoyi, Mbangwane, Goba, Khombaso, Mbuzini, Thambokhulu
  • Ratang and Wales
  • Maporo, Bhejukufa, Gutshwa
  • Block C, Kamaqhekeza, Langeloop, Phiva, Vlakbult
  • Matsulu B Youth Centre, Matsulu C Section, Matsulu and 3 camps in Kruger National Park, and Matsulu B
  • Cunningmore B, Cork, Ronald C, Agincourt RDP, Crocotlawn, MP Stream, Damphies A and B, and Hokwe.

Limpopo

Eskom is also struggling with overloading in Limpopo, which in turn leads to explosions at substations. The following areas in Mopani District will be affected between 17:00 and 21:00.

DistrictFeeder / pointSub areas
Risenga / Julesburg 11kVSasekani, Mhlaba JB, Wisani, Shikwambane, Kuwait, Lenyenye, Gavana, Mafarana,
Bergusdorp, Solani, Nyanyukano, Madawa, Molatia, and Bonny Village
Mamitwa / Bokhuta 22kVMaweni, Hlaysisani, Musiphani, Nkambako, Balobana, Mercury

KwaZulu-Natal

The following areas will be affected between 18:00 and 20:00 on Saturday 24 April.

Eskom load reduction
Image via Twitter/Eskom

North West

In the North West province, the Hartebeesfontein sub-area under the Rustenburg sector will be subjected to load reduction between 17:00 and 22:00 on Saturday.

In addition, the Klerksdorp, Mmabatho and Vryburg Sector will also experience down times. The following areas will be affected between 17:00 and 21:00:

  • Welgeval
  • Segakwaneng

Eastern Cape

Eskom wishes to notify customers in the region that load reduction will be implemented during peak hours (between 17:00 and 21:00 on Saturday 24 April), due to severe network overloading in the district.

The following areas will be affected:

MunicipalityFeeder / PointSub-areas
Mnquma Local Municipality, ButterworthLamplough Ibika 66kV breakerNgxalathi, Ibika, Extension 15 and 24, Vuli Valley, Cuba, Mcubakazi, Zizamele and Msobomvu.

Lastly, Eskom urges all customers to report meter bypasses, illegal connections and vandalism of electricity infrastructure on the Eskom Crime Line: 0800 11 27 22.

Now read: Here’s how long South Africans spent in load shedding last year