“Eskom has announced a 16-hour power outage affecting residents in Blocks C, X, and X Ext, Hebron, Itsoseng, Libanon, Mabopane Blocks U and UX, and Morula View on Friday, 12 June.
The utility has confirmed that the outage, scheduled from 07:00 to 23:00, is due to planned maintenance on its distribution network and is not related to load shedding or an emergency fault. However, while this is not load shedding in the traditional sense, it is a timely reminder that South Africa’s energy challenges have not disappeared. The absence of rotational load shedding does not equate to a resilient or reliable power system.
A 16-hour outage is a full-day disruption that impacts everything from households and small businesses to security systems, water supply, and connectivity. It highlights the extent to which many South Africans remain exposed to a grid that is still under strain – not only from ageing generation capacity, but also from maintenance requirements and constraints in the distribution network.
The reality is that energy insecurity in South Africa has shifted rather than disappeared. Planned outages, infrastructure limitations, and rising tariffs all point to a system that remains under pressure.
For households, this reinforces the case for taking greater control of their energy supply. Solar, particularly when paired with battery storage, provides a level of resilience that the grid cannot consistently guarantee.
Importantly, subscription-based solar models are removing the upfront cost barrier that has historically limited adoption. By enabling households to access solar and battery solutions through a monthly fee rather than a large capital outlay, more South Africans can protect themselves from both planned outages and future supply disruptions.
Ultimately, events like this underscore the simple reality that energy security is still not a given but needs to be actively secured with alternative sources.”– Andrew Middleton, CEO, GoSolr