Load Shedding – After months of relatively stable power supply, South Africa is once again bracing for the return of load shedding from July 2025. Eskom has confirmed that Stage 2 and Stage 3 blackouts will resume due to persistent generation issues and heightened winter demand. For millions of households already dealing with rising utility bills, this renewed schedule brings a fresh wave of inconvenience and concern. The announcement, made on Sunday evening, came as a shock to many. While Eskom had warned of tight capacity during winter, the confirmation of a full-blown load shedding schedule has left citizens scrambling to make alternative arrangements. According to Eskom, the latest bouts of blackouts are due to breakdowns at several key power stations, including Medupi, Tutuka, and Kendal. Maintenance backlogs and diesel shortages have only added to the crisis. The July 2025 load shedding schedule has been rolled out in stages, with specific areas affected during peak morning and evening times. This will impact both residential users and small businesses, especially those relying on electricity for heating and operations. Households in major metros like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Tshwane, and Durban will face power cuts lasting between 2 to 4 hours at a time. Eskom has released updated block schedules for all provinces, which are expected to change week-to-week depending on power availability. South Africans are being urged to check their area’s schedule daily and reduce electricity usage wherever possible to help manage the grid. Below is a detailed breakdown of the current situation, province-specific schedules, Eskom’s reasoning behind the renewed outages, and how to prepare to survive the upcoming weeks with minimal disruption.
Why Load Shedding Is Returning in July 2025
South Africans are wondering why load shedding has returned after several stable months. Here are the main reasons behind the July 2025 blackouts:
- Breakdown of 4 major generating units at Medupi and Kendal
- Diesel supply challenges for backup peaking plants
- Increased demand due to freezing winter temperatures
- Maintenance delays from the April–May 2025 period
- Grid balancing due to unstable renewable supply inputs
- Coal quality issues from key supply mines
- Emergency reserves reaching critical levels
- Water pumping shortages at hydro-electric sites
Areas Affected by Load Shedding in July 2025
Power cuts will rotate across provinces based on block schedules and Eskom zones.
| Province | Main Metros | Load Shedding Stage | Time Slots Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gauteng | Johannesburg, PTA | Stage 3 | 4-6am, 6-8pm |
| Western Cape | Cape Town | Stage 2 | 10am-12pm, 8-10pm |
| KwaZulu-Natal | Durban | Stage 3 | 5-7am, 7-9pm |
| Eastern Cape | Gqeberha, East London | Stage 2 | 6-8am, 2-4pm |
| Free State | Bloemfontein | Stage 3 | 4-6am, 6-8pm |
| Limpopo | Polokwane | Stage 2 | 10am-12pm, 8-10pm |
| Mpumalanga | Mbombela | Stage 3 | 5-7am, 7-9pm |
| North West | Mahikeng | Stage 2 | 6-8am, 2-4pm |
| Northern Cape | Kimberley | Stage 2 | 10am-12pm, 8-10pm |
How Long Will Load Shedding Last?
Based on Eskom’s forecast, load shedding could extend for the next three weeks, depending on power plant recovery and diesel availability.
- Stage 2: Expected to run until 7 July 2025
- Stage 3: Activated during peak evening hours until 14 July
- Potential reduction to Stage 1 after 21 July if repairs succeed
- New block schedules every Sunday evening
- Longest expected blackout: 4 hours
- Shortest window: 2 hours during mid-day
Eskom’s Revised Load Shedding Blocks for Major Cities
Each city follows a rotating block system to distribute outages fairly across regions. Here’s an example of how the blocks will affect households in Gauteng.
| City Block | Area Example | Stage 2 Times | Stage 3 Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Block 1 | Soweto | 4am–6am | 4am–6am, 6pm–8pm |
| Block 2 | Midrand | 6am–8am | 6am–8am, 8pm–10pm |
| Block 3 | Sandton | 10am–12pm | 10am–12pm, 2pm–4pm |
| Block 4 | Pretoria East | 12pm–2pm | 12pm–2pm, 6pm–8pm |
| Block 5 | Roodepoort | 2pm–4pm | 2pm–4pm, 8pm–10pm |
| Block 6 | Centurion | 4pm–6pm | 4pm–6pm, 10pm–12am |
| Block 7 | Alexandra | 6pm–8pm | 6pm–8pm, 12am–2am |
| Block 8 | Mamelodi | 8pm–10pm | 8pm–10pm, 2am–4am |
What Are the Main Consumer Complaints?
Consumers across provinces have raised common concerns about how the power cuts are affecting daily life:
- Disruption to school and work-from-home routines
- Small business losses due to spoilage or downtime
- Security system failures at night
- Risk of electrical damage due to power surges
- High backup generator costs for families and businesses
- Increased crime during blackout hours
- Internet and mobile signal failures during blackouts
What Households Can Do to Prepare
With blackouts back in action, preparation is key to surviving the next few weeks.
- Download the latest load shedding app or EskomSePush
- Keep power banks charged for mobile usage
- Invest in rechargeable LED bulbs or solar lanterns
- Limit cooking to non-peak hours
- Store boiled water for tea/coffee ahead of cuts
- Avoid elevator use close to outage times
- Schedule study/work hours around known blackout slots
- Back up critical documents on cloud storage
Businesses Hit Hard by New Load Shedding Schedule
Small and medium businesses are bearing the brunt of Eskom’s new schedule.
- Butcheries and cold storage facing inventory losses
- Home salons and spaza shops see client drop-offs
- Restaurants now running generators, increasing costs
- Retailers experience POS and card payment delays
- Online sellers unable to dispatch during blackout hours
Tips for Business Owners
Here are quick solutions to reduce load shedding impact on your operations:
- Use inverter systems instead of petrol generators
- Post new working hours online to manage customer expectations
- Encourage cash transactions when POS is down
- Reduce freezer and fridge door openings to preserve cold
- Keep emergency lighting for staff and customer safety
Load Shedding’s Impact on Children and the Elderly
The emotional and physical toll is severe for vulnerable groups:
- Elderly people reliant on oxygen machines face major risks
- Children’s sleep cycles disrupted due to late-night blackouts
- Loss of access to warm food and proper lighting
- Risk of fire hazards with open-flame alternatives
| Group Affected | Impact Highlight | Recommended Action |
|---|---|---|
| Children | Interrupted homework and sleep | Study early; use LED lights |
| Elderly (Medical) | Medical devices offline | Arrange battery-powered units |
| General Households | Spoiled food in fridges | Limit opening during outage |
| Students | No Wi-Fi during revision | Use downloaded offline tools |
As South Africa enters another winter burdened by power insecurity, the public is once again being urged to adapt, prepare, and stay informed. The next few weeks will test household resilience and expose the continued challenges facing Eskom’s recovery. Check your schedule regularly and make the necessary preparations now to avoid last-minute crises.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How do I know my area’s exact schedule?
A: Use the EskomSePush app or visit your municipality’s electricity website. You’ll find your block number and schedule there.
Q2: Will load shedding get worse than Stage 3?
A: Eskom currently says Stage 3 is the limit for July unless major breakdowns occur.
Q3: What’s the best way to get notified about changes?
A: Enable load shedding notifications via the app or subscribe to SMS alerts from your municipality.
Q4: Can I claim losses from Eskom for food spoilage?
A: Unfortunately, Eskom does not reimburse households for blackout-related losses.
Q5: Is solar energy now a better option?
A: Yes, many households are switching to rooftop solar and battery systems to reduce reliance on Eskom.