Eskom to implement a 9-hour power outage in Gauteng on Wednesday

Eskom will switch off the electricity supply to parts of Soweto on Wednesday, 7 October. The power utility will carry out essential maintenance on its distribution network. The planned outage will run from 9:00 to 18:00, leaving affected customers without electricity for nine hours.

The outage will affect customers in Meadowlands East Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6. 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.

Residents in the affected zones should plan their day around the nine-hour window. Charging phones and power banks the night before can help households stay connected. Families can also prepare meals that don’t need cooking, and keep fridge and freezer doors closed to keep food cold for longer. Businesses in the area may need to adjust their trading hours or arrange backup power.

Treat all appliances as live

Eskom has urged customers to treat all electrical appliances as live at all times during the outage. Power could return without warning once the work ends, and appliances left on could pose a safety risk. Residents should switch off and unplug sensitive devices such as televisions, computers and fridges to protect them from power surges when the supply returns.

Eskom has thanked customers for their cooperation and apologised for any inconvenience the maintenance may cause. The utility also noted that the planned work may not go ahead as announced if circumstances beyond its control arise. Residents should therefore watch for any updates before and during the day.

How to contact Eskom

Customers can reach Eskom through several channels. The self-help MyEskom Customer app allows users to log and track queries. Customers can also contact Eskom on WhatsApp at 0860 037 566 or dial the USSD code *120*37566#.

Customers can check bill-related enquiries 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 power after 18:00 on Wednesday should report the fault through one of these channels. This helps Eskom confirm whether the problem is linked to the maintenance or is a separate fault.