Eskom Confirms Stage 6 Loadshedding Hits SA Again, Weekend Power Woes

As South Africans brace for another round of intensified electricity disruptions, Eskom has officially confirmed that Stage 6 loadshedding will return in mid-August 2025. This announcement comes at a time when the country’s power grid remains under immense pressure due to aging infrastructure, ongoing maintenance delays, and insufficient energy generation capacity.

With power outages scheduled across all major provinces during the weekends of August 16–18 and August 23–25, residents are urged to prepare in advance. Eskom warns that Stage 6 loadshedding may stretch into weekdays if national energy demand continues to exceed supply.

What Stage 6 Loadshedding Really Means

Stage 6 loadshedding represents one of the most severe levels of planned power cuts. Eskom may have to remove up to 6,000 MW of electricity from the national grid. This results in multiple daily blackouts across residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

Each affected region may experience up to three separate outages per day, lasting between 2 to 4 hours per session. These power interruptions are not just inconvenient—they disrupt daily routines, impact business operations, and affect essential services like water supply, mobile connectivity, healthcare, and education.

Blackouts to Disrupt Every Province

Eskom has released a province-wise blackout schedule that covers the two key weekends in August. Every province is expected to experience power cuts at varying intensities.

Province	Morning (6am–10am)	Midday (12pm–4pm)	Evening (6pm–10pm)	Daily Frequency
Gauteng	Yes	Yes	Yes	3 Times
Western Cape	Yes	No	Yes	2 Times
KwaZulu-Natal	Yes	Yes	No	2 Times
Eastern Cape	No	Yes	Yes	2 Times
Free State	Yes	No	Yes	2 Times
Limpopo	Yes	Yes	Yes	3 Times
Mpumalanga	No	Yes	Yes	2 Times
North West	Yes	No	Yes	2 Times
Northern Cape	Yes	Yes	Yes	3 Times

Small Businesses Suffer Heavy Losses

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) remain among the hardest hit by Stage 6 power outages. These businesses often lack the resources to run backup systems like industrial generators.

Impact on Local Enterprises:

• Cafes, restaurants, and takeaway joints lose hours of trade daily.
• Retailers face stock spoilage due to refrigeration failure.
• Remote workers and freelancers struggle with internet and system downtimes.
• Security systems, including alarms and CCTV, go offline during power cuts.
• Fuel and maintenance costs for generators continue to rise, squeezing already-thin profit margins.

Citizen Survival Plan: How to Prepare for Stage 6

South Africans are urged to adopt a proactive approach in dealing with the increased frequency of loadshedding. Preparation remains key to reducing its disruptive effects.

Top Tips for Households:

• Charge all electronics and keep power banks ready.
• Store frozen water bottles in your freezer to extend cold storage.
• Use gas stoves and candles safely to avoid fire hazards.
• Unplug devices to protect them from voltage surges.
• Keep a battery-powered radio or an emergency backup phone active.

Healthcare and Emergency Services: Coping With Limited Power

The medical and emergency sectors have plans in place to minimize service interruptions. Still, response times may be delayed, especially in rural and under-resourced areas.

Facility Type	Backup Power	Emergency Plan	Service Level
Public Hospitals	Yes	Active	Full Support
Private Clinics	Yes	Active	Medium Support
Ambulance Services	Limited	Active	Priority Responses
Old Age Homes	Limited	Partial	Low Capacity
Dialysis Centers	Yes	Active	Full Support
Blood Banks	Yes	Active	Full Support
Emergency Rooms	Yes	Active	Full Support
Mental Health Facilities	No	None	Limited Support

Official Contacts and Support Lines for Loadshedding Help

In case of emergency, outage issues, or schedule clarifications, Eskom and various regional authorities have set up direct helplines and email contacts.

Office/Department	Phone Number	Email	Availability
Eskom National Support	08600 37566	[email protected]	24/7
Gauteng Regional Office	011 490 7900	[email protected]	Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm
Western Cape Region	021 812 5711	[email protected]	Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm
KwaZulu-Natal Region	031 204 7600	[email protected]	Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm
Limpopo Region	015 299 8000	[email protected]	Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm
City Power Johannesburg	011 490 7484	[email protected]	24/7
Cape Town Loadshedding Team	0800 220 440	[email protected]	24/7
National Energy Regulator	012 401 4600	[email protected]	Mon–Fri, 8am–4pm

Eskom’s Outlook: Is There an End in Sight?

Eskom acknowledges that Stage 6 loadshedding may continue through late August and possibly spill into early September. The utility company cites its ongoing maintenance and slow progress in bringing new generating units online as key challenges.

Although long-term plans focus on renewable energy integration and independent power producers, Eskom stresses that these solutions are not immediate fixes. For now, planned outages remain a necessary strategy to prevent total grid collapse.

South Africans Must Adapt to a Power-Constrained Reality

As the energy crisis continues, residents are being asked to monitor schedules closely using the EskomSePush app or the official Eskom website. Loadshedding, while disruptive, is currently the only method available to manage an overstretched power system.

In the absence of a rapid solution, both government and citizens must work in tandem to mitigate the impact and ensure critical infrastructure survives the ongoing energy crunch.

FAQs of Stage 6 Loadshedding

1. What is Stage 6 loadshedding?
Stage 6 loadshedding means up to 6,000 MW of power is cut from the national grid, resulting in multiple blackouts per area daily.

2. How long will each power cut last?
Each blackout can last between 2 to 4 hours, and may occur 2–3 times per day, depending on your location.

3. Where can I find my loadshedding schedule?
You can check Eskom’s official website or use the EskomSePush mobile app for real-time updates.

4. Will my water supply be impacted during loadshedding?
Yes. In some regions, water pumping stations may go offline during outages, affecting water availability.

5. Is financial aid available for businesses affected by loadshedding?
At present, no national compensation plan exists. However, some municipalities offer local relief for essential services and qualifying businesses.