Eskom announces a 9-hour power outage in Gauteng on Thursday

Eskom will cut the electricity supply to Jabulani in Soweto on Thursday, 15 October. The planned outage will run from 9:00 to 18:00 while the power utility carries out maintenance on its distribution network. Affected customers will be without electricity for nine hours.

The outage will affect customers in Jabulani. Eskom’s Gauteng Cluster announced the interruption in its October 2026 customer notice. It said the work is necessary to perform essential maintenance on its distribution power lines.

Since the outage covers most of the day, residents should prepare in advance. Households can charge phones, laptops and power banks the night before and fill flasks with hot water for the day. Planning meals that don’t need electricity will also help. Keeping fridges and freezers closed will help food stay cold for longer. Small businesses, salons and spaza shops in Jabulani may want to arrange backup power or adjust their hours for the day.

Safety comes first

Eskom has advised customers to treat all electrical appliances as live at all times during the outage. Power could be restored at any moment once the maintenance ends. Residents should switch off and unplug appliances such as televisions, computers, microwaves and fridges to protect them from power surges when the supply returns.

Residents should also never attempt to tamper with electrical infrastructure during the outage. Eskom teams will be working on the lines, and any interference could put both workers and residents at risk.

Eskom has thanked customers for their cooperation and apologised for any inconvenience. The utility warned that the planned maintenance may not go ahead as announced if circumstances beyond its control arise.

How to reach Eskom

Customers can contact Eskom through several channels. They can download the MyEskom Customer app to log and track queries, or send a WhatsApp message to 0860 037 566. The USSD code *120*37566# is also available.

Bill-related enquiries can be checked online at csonline.Eskom.co.za from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 and 16:00. For supply-related enquiries, Eskom’s Contact Centre is available 24 hours a day on 08600 37566.

Residents who still have no electricity after 18:00 on Thursday should report it through these channels so that Eskom can check for any separate faults.