Eskom removes over one million customers from load reduction schedules, Gauteng still faces outages

This progress is attributed to the Generation Recovery Plan, which has improved generation availability, reduced unplanned outages, and enhanced operational reliability. Five provinces have already seen load reduction eliminated, with Eskom aiming for seven provinces by October 2026 and national eradication by 2027. Limpopo and Mpumalanga account for the largest share of customers freed from load reduction, followed by Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, North West, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape.

South Africa has also recorded 413 consecutive days without national load shedding since May 16, 2025. Eskom clarified that load reduction continues in high-risk areas due to safety and infrastructure risks from illegal connections and meter tampering, rather than generation shortfalls. Meanwhile, various blocks in Gauteng will experience scheduled load reduction outages throughout the upcoming week, including areas in Ekangala, Moroka, Soweto Zola, Orange Farm, Vosloorus, Tsakane, Meadowlands West Zone 10, Ivory Park Ext 10, Mapetla, Diepkloof Zone 1, Etwatwa Ext 15, and others.