If you’re living in Cape Town, it’s time to prep — a planned electricity outage is on the way.
Eskom has confirmed it will be cutting off power for up to nine hours this week to carry out essential maintenance work.
Whether you’re working from home, managing a household, or just want to avoid getting stuck without Wi-Fi or coffee, here’s everything you need to know.
When and Where the Power Will Be Off
The scheduled blackout is set for Wednesday, 16 July, running from 7:40 AM to 5:00 PM, according to the City of Cape Town.
But don’t panic — not the whole city is affected.
The power outage will only impact the specific area highlighted on Eskom’s map.
If you live in the designated zone, you’ll want to take note. You can check the affected map by following this link.
Extra Outage Alert for Athlone and Silvertown
In addition to Eskom’s maintenance, the City itself has planned a separate outage in the Silvertown, Athlone area on the same day — Wednesday, 16 July.
This outage will run from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and the following streets are expected to be without electricity:
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Honeysuckle
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Appledene
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Agapanthus
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Geranium
So if you live in or around those roads, it’s best to prep early.
Power Could Come Back Early — Stay Safe
Here’s an important reminder: the electricity can be restored at any time, even earlier than expected.
That’s why officials are urging residents to treat all electrical appliances and plugs as live during the entire maintenance window.
To avoid any surprises — or damage from power surges — it’s a smart move to switch off your appliances before the outage begins.
A Message from the City
In a statement, the City of Cape Town thanked residents for their patience, saying:
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate the community’s cooperation and understanding during this necessary maintenance work.”
Share Your Tips for Dealing with Outages
Got a routine for surviving Cape Town’s planned blackouts?
Maybe a stash of power banks or a favorite load shedding dinner recipe?