{"id":36903,"date":"2026-05-19T11:14:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T09:14:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=36903"},"modified":"2026-05-19T11:14:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T09:14:04","slug":"one-year-without-load-shedding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/one-year-without-load-shedding\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa Marks One Year Without Load Shedding &#8211; But Some Communities Still Face Power Cuts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gauteng residents have officially experienced a full year without national load shedding for the first time in years, marking a major shift after prolonged blackouts disrupted homes, businesses, schools and daily life across the province.<\/p><div id=\"gaute-145900121\" class=\"gaute-after-paragraph-1 gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eskom confirmed on Sunday that South Africa has now recorded 365 consecutive days without national load shedding, describing the milestone as a major recovery for the national grid following years of severe electricity shortages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But while many residents across Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni have seen greater electricity stability, some communities continue facing load reduction linked to overloaded infrastructure, illegal connections and network strain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/load-reduction-schedule\/\"><strong>ALSO READ: Gauteng Load Reduction Schedule for 18 to 24 May 2026<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Stage 8 Blackouts To a Year of Relative Stability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For many Gauteng residents, the milestone represents a dramatic change from the height of the electricity crisis between 2022 and 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During peak load shedding periods, some households experienced:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Up to 12 to 16 hours without electricity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rotating Stage 6 to Stage 8 outages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Internet and cellphone disruptions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Food spoilage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alarm system failures<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water supply interruptions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Traffic congestion caused by dead traffic lights<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The electricity crisis also affected restaurants, nightlife venues, shopping centres and entertainment businesses across Gauteng, with many forced to invest heavily in generators and backup power systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Small township businesses were among the hardest hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hair salons, kota shops, internet caf\u00e9s, car washes and small grocery stores often struggled to continue operating during repeated power cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eskom Says Maintenance Recovery Drove The Turnaround<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said the utility\u2019s<a href=\"https:\/\/www.eskom.co.za\/eskom-delivers-365-days-without-loadshedding-advancing-the-economy-competition-and-the-integration-of-renewable-energy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> 365-day milestone <\/a>reflects years of maintenance work and operational recovery efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhile the legacy of load shedding once constrained economic activity and strained South African households, 365 consecutive days of uninterrupted power supply represent more than operational progress; it is a restoration of national confidence,\u201d Mokwena said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Eskom, major operational improvements included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Energy Availability Factor increasing from 54.56% to 65.16%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unplanned outages dropping from 32.34% to 22.88%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An 81% reduction in diesel spending<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Approximately R26.9 billion saved in diesel costs over three years<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eskom Board Chairperson Mteto Nyati credited technical teams and the utility\u2019s generation recovery plan for stabilising the grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis moment has been three years in the making,\u201d Nyati said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=usZ1S01K1Tg\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-349455393\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gauteng Businesses Finally Seeing Relief<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reduction in national load shedding has brought relief to businesses across Gauteng\u2019s major economic centres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Restaurant owners, event venues and hospitality businesses previously faced major financial pressure from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Generator fuel costs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Food wastage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cancelled bookings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damaged appliances<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduced trading hours<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Staff scheduling disruptions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The entertainment sector was also heavily affected during rolling blackouts, with concerts, festivals and nightlife venues often relying on expensive backup power solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some business owners say the improved electricity stability has helped restore customer confidence and reduce operating costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Some Gauteng Communities Still Face Outages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although national load shedding has remained suspended for a full year, several Gauteng communities continue experiencing load reduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Load reduction differs from load shedding because it targets specific high-demand areas where electricity infrastructure is at risk of collapsing under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Communities affected by load reduction often experience challenges linked to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Illegal electricity connections<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overloaded substations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Infrastructure theft and vandalism<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High population density<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transformer overloads<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Electricity meter bypassing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Areas including Orange Farm, Diepsloot, Sebokeng, Tsakane, Mabopane and parts of Soweto continue appearing on municipal load reduction schedules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Energy analysts say this highlights the uneven nature of South Africa\u2019s electricity recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Residents Say The Psychological Impact of Load Shedding Remains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even with improved electricity stability, many Gauteng residents say the effects of years of rolling blackouts continue to shape how they live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some households still rely on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rechargeable lights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inverters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gas stoves<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Backup batteries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Solar systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Power banks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Residents also continue monitoring Eskom announcements closely whenever winter demand rises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Energy experts say the psychological and economic impact of prolonged load shedding may take years to fully reverse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-349455393\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eskom Now Shifts Focus To Future Energy Plans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane said the utility now plans to focus on long-term energy reforms and grid stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSouth Africa now has a stable electricity platform to enable an orderly transformation of the industry,\u201d Marokane said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The utility says future plans include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Expanding renewable energy integration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthening transmission infrastructure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repurposing ageing coal stations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improving generation reliability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reducing emissions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expanding electricity access<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eskom also confirmed plans to continue improving maintenance performance while supporting South Africa\u2019s energy transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Winter Demand Still Poses Risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Energy experts have however warned that the electricity system remains vulnerable despite the milestone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Africa\u2019s winter season traditionally places additional pressure on the grid because of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Heater usage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased geyser demand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Longer lighting hours<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Higher evening peak consumption<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Analysts say sustained maintenance and infrastructure investment will remain critical if Eskom hopes to avoid future blackouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What This Means for Gauteng Residents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Gauteng residents, one year without national load shedding marks a major improvement in daily life after years of uncertainty and disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The milestone means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>More stable business trading conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fewer disruptions for schools and remote workers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduced generator and diesel costs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improved nightlife and entertainment activity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Better internet reliability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Greater confidence for investors and businesses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, communities affected by load reduction may still experience planned outages linked to local infrastructure challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Has load shedding officially ended in South Africa?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. Eskom says South Africa has recorded 365 consecutive days without national load shedding, but the utility has not declared load shedding permanently over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why are some Gauteng areas still experiencing power cuts?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some areas continue facing load reduction because of overloaded infrastructure, illegal connections and local network strain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What helped Eskom stabilise the grid?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eskom says maintenance improvements, reduced breakdowns and its generation recovery plan contributed to the turnaround.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which Gauteng communities still experience load reduction?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Areas including Orange Farm, Diepsloot, Sebokeng, Tsakane and parts of Soweto continue appearing on load reduction schedules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Could load shedding return?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Energy experts say the risk remains if major breakdowns, infrastructure failures or severe generation shortages occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-349455393\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Happens Next?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eskom says it will continue focusing on maintenance, infrastructure upgrades and generation recovery efforts to sustain electricity stability across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The utility is also expected to accelerate renewable energy integration and the gradual repurposing of older coal-fired stations as part of South Africa\u2019s long-term energy transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Energy analysts meanwhile say the coming winter months will remain a major test for the national grid, particularly as electricity demand rises across Gauteng and other high-consumption provinces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gauteng residents have officially experienced a full year without national load shedding for the first time in years, marking a major shift after prolonged blackouts disrupted homes, businesses, schools and daily life across the province.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":36909,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"","footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[345,527,2220],"ppma_author":[11575],"class_list":["post-36903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","tag-load-shedding","tag-service-delivery","tag-south-africa-news"],"authors":[{"term_id":11575,"user_id":23,"is_guest":0,"slug":"nomthandazo","display_name":"Nomthandazo Ntisa","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ec3262463e8ed5ea26dca074ed7eff95ffede057639be73a77f7896ccd06170f?s=96&r=g","avatar_alt":"","avatar_decorative":"","author_category":"1","first_name":"Nomthandazo","last_name":"Ntisa","user_url":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/","job_title":"Content Editor","description":"Nomthandazo Ntisa is a journalist and Content Editor at What's On G with more than six years of experience in journalism, digital publishing, and content strategy. She covers the people, places, events, and issues shaping Gauteng - producing stories that help readers understand and connect with life across the province."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36903","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36903"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36903\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36903"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=36903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}