Full Eskom Outage Plan – In a dramatic escalation of South Africa’s ongoing power crisis, Eskom has announced a 14-hour planned blackout across three major provinces: Northern Cape, North West, and Eastern Cape. This unprecedented move, effective from May 20, 2025, is part of Eskom’s high-alert strategy to manage critical pressure on the national grid during the winter months. Residents and businesses across affected municipalities are urged to prepare for a long, disruptive power cut that may impact every aspect of daily life — from basic household chores to business continuity, school schedules, health services, and communication networks.
Why the 14-Hour Power Outage Is Being Implemented
Eskom is grappling with compounding challenges that have pushed the country’s energy system into a fragile state. This load shedding schedule is not part of the typical Stage 1 to 6 rolling blackouts — it is an emergency-level intervention designed to avert a grid collapse.
Several contributing factors include:
- Increased demand due to plunging winter temperatures
- Severe damage and breakdown of multiple generating units
- Fuel shortages at peaking power stations
- Delays in returning key power units to service
- Critically low water and diesel reserves for emergency generation
The 14-hour power cut is Eskom’s response to protect the remaining generation capacity, provide engineers time to restore units, and stabilize the grid before the winter load spikes further.
Affected Areas and Blackout Timing – Full Schedule by Province
On May 20, 2025, Eskom will enforce up to 14-hour blackouts in parts of the Northern Cape, North West, and Eastern Cape. Areas like Sol Plaatje, Rustenburg, and Nelson Mandela Bay will be affected, with outages starting from 4:00 AM. Residents should check their local schedules and prepare in advance. The blackout will occur province-wide, targeting specific municipalities based on infrastructure vulnerability, demand concentration, and available alternate supply routes. Below is a detailed table listing affected areas and timeframes.
Northern Cape Load Shedding Plan
| Municipality | Start Time | End Time | Duration | Date | Backup Support | Substation Affected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sol Plaatje | 06:00 AM | 08:00 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | Yes | Beaconsfield |
| Gamagara | 05:00 AM | 07:00 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | No | Kathu Main |
| Tsantsabane | 04:00 AM | 06:00 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | Yes | Postmasburg North |
| Siyancuma | 07:00 AM | 09:00 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | No | Griekwastad |
| Phokwane | 05:30 AM | 07:30 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | Yes | Hartswater |
North West Load Shedding Plan
| Municipality | Start Time | End Time | Duration | Date | Backup Support | Substation Affected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahikeng | 06:00 AM | 08:00 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | No | Signal Hill |
| Rustenburg | 05:00 AM | 07:00 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | Yes | Waterkloof |
| Madibeng | 04:30 AM | 06:30 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | No | Brits North |
| Potchefstroom | 06:30 AM | 08:30 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | Yes | Mooirivier |
| Matlosana | 05:45 AM | 07:45 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | No | Stilfontein South |
Eastern Cape Load Shedding Plan
| Municipality | Start Time | End Time | Duration | Date | Backup Support | Substation Affected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Mandela Bay | 06:00 AM | 08:00 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | Yes | Bethelsdorp |
| Buffalo City | 05:00 AM | 07:00 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | No | Mdantsane |
| Mthatha | 04:00 AM | 06:00 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | Yes | Norwood |
| Chris Hani District | 07:00 AM | 09:00 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | No | Queenstown East |
| Sarah Baartman District | 05:30 AM | 07:30 PM | 14 hrs | 20 May 2025 | Yes | Graaff-Reinet |
How Will This Outage Affect You?
The extended outage is likely to affect essential services and daily operations across all sectors. Households should anticipate:
- Interruption of Wi-Fi and cellular networks
- Loss of lighting, cooking, and heating facilities
- Food spoilage in fridges and freezers
- Delays or cancellations in public transport
- Reduced water supply in pump-reliant areas
- Impact on medical equipment and elderly care systems
Business owners are advised to activate backup power plans, as work-from-home setups and customer service operations may face complete downtime.
Precautions Residents Should Take Before May 20
Before the blackout begins, residents must take proactive steps to stay safe and reduce inconvenience:
- Fully charge cell phones, laptops, and power banks.
- Refill gas cylinders for cooking and heating.
- Freeze extra water in bottles to keep fridges cold longer.
- Print important documents or download them offline.
- Park vehicles out of automated garages before the blackout.
- Plan alternative lighting using solar lanterns or candles.
Eskom’s Emergency Strategy Explained
This is not routine Stage 6 load shedding. Eskom is implementing a controlled regional shutdown, aiming to reduce pressure on critical substations and redistribute load to stabilize generation.
Key aspects of the strategy include:
- Prioritizing essential service delivery (hospitals, water).
- Providing municipalities with early schedules to notify residents.
- Allocating diesel-powered backups to areas with highest vulnerability.
How This Load Shedding Differs from Normal Outages
Unlike ordinary load shedding schedules:
- This blackout lasts up to 14 consecutive hours.
- There is no rotating relief, and fewer exemptions.
- Municipalities have limited ability to override Eskom’s decision.
Public Response and Warnings from Authorities
Local disaster management teams have issued high-level alerts advising citizens to:
- Check on elderly neighbors and isolated family members.
- Prepare for non-availability of ATMs and online banking.
- Ensure medications that need refrigeration are kept in icepacks.
Are Other Provinces at Risk Too?
Eskom has hinted that if demand and generation imbalance continues, other provinces — especially Gauteng, Limpopo, and Free State — could see similar or even longer blackouts before winter ends.
Can You Claim Compensation for Losses During This Outage?
Eskom does not offer reimbursement for losses related to planned blackouts. However:
- If appliances are damaged due to surge when power resumes, file a claim with Eskom via their online damage claim portal.
- Check with home insurance policies for coverage options.
Expected Duration of the Emergency Schedule
The current blackout is a one-day emergency response, but Eskom may extend or repeat the action if supply conditions don’t improve by late May.
What to Do If Power Is Not Restored on Time
If your area continues to experience blackouts beyond scheduled times:
- Log a fault using the MyEskom Customer App
- Call 08600 37566 for updates and troubleshooting
- Reach out to your local municipality’s power department
Key Eskom Contacts for Complaints or Assistance
| Department | Contact Number | Email Address | Service Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eskom Customer Support | 08600 37566 | [email protected] | 24/7 |
| Municipal Electricity | 0800 111 155 | [email protected] | 8 AM – 6 PM |
| Load Shedding Queries | 011 800 2727 | [email protected] | 6 AM – 10 PM |
| Fault Reporting | 08600 11211 | [email protected] | 24/7 |
| Media Inquiries | 011 800 3435 | [email protected] | 9 AM – 5 PM |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is this a permanent schedule or temporary?
The blackout is scheduled for 20 May 2025 only, but may recur if necessary.
Q2: Will mobile towers and Wi-Fi work?
Most towers run on battery backups, which last 4-6 hours. Beyond that, expect network disruptions.
Q3: Can Eskom shift blackout timings for emergencies?
Only in life-threatening scenarios with municipal intervention.
Q4: What happens to prepaid electricity users?
Units remain active, but power won’t flow until the blackout ends.
Q5: Can we check updates online?
Yes, visit www.loadshedding.eskom.co.za or use the MyEskom App.