Reports circulating about Gauteng facing week-long load-shedding have been dismissed, and labelled false and misleading by the power utility Eskom.

This comes after reports were doing the rounds of possible outages across the province, including in Pretoria.

Eskom stated on social media that the power utility remains stable and continues to perform effectively, despite claims shared on various platforms suggesting otherwise.

The utility urged residents and businesses to rely only on its verified and official communication channels for accurate and reliable information regarding electricity supply.

Eskom further reminded the public that it provides regular updates through its Power System Update, which is issued every Friday and shared across its official platforms to keep residents informed about system performance and any potential risks to electricity supply.

In Pretoria, large parts were plunged into darkness in late January and early February, fuelling rumours that Eskom was responsible for the disruptions.

However, investigations later confirmed that the failures originated within the Tshwane metro’s infrastructure, raising concerns about ageing electricity assets, underinvestment and long-term grid stability.

Areas including Silver Lakes, Zwavelpoort, Donkerhoek, Olympus, Shere, The Wilds, Woodhill, Tygervalley, Hazeldean, Highlands, CSIR, The Willows, Lynnwood, Villieria, Koedoespoort, Waltloo and Pyramid were among those hardest hit, with some residents experiencing repeated power failures over several days.

As frustration among residents grew, speculation intensified that the outages were linked to failures on Eskom’s network.

Both Eskom and the metro have since clarified that the power utility’s supply was not responsible for the disruptions.

The metro has indicated that immediate measures are being implemented to prevent a recurrence of the January failures.

These include intensified routine maintenance and inspections under the metro’s service level agreement, which targets 80% quarterly performance for high-voltage maintenance.

The metro has also reprioritised funding towards electricity infrastructure upgrades.

The metro is looking ahead for long-term stability, which will depend on structural reform.

From July, electricity revenue will be ring-fenced and reinvested into the electricity network before being used to support other municipal services, a move aimed at improving sustainability and resilience.

Residents are encouraged to consult Eskom’s official communication platforms to avoid being misled by unverified information circulating on social media.

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