Eskom: What You Need to Know Now

Power cuts from Eskom keep disrupting homes, schools and businesses across South Africa. If you live, study, or work here, you need quick facts and simple steps to stay on top of the problem. Below you’ll find how to check schedules, keep learning during outages, protect equipment and pick the right backup options without getting overwhelmed.

How to track load-shedding and official news

First, know where to get reliable updates. Check Eskom’s official load-shedding schedule on their website and follow @Eskom_SA on Twitter for alerts. Municipalities sometimes post their own schedules too, so bookmark your local council page. For on-the-go alerts use a trusted load-shedding app or sign up for text alerts from your municipality. Confirm any tip with the official Eskom or municipal channel before acting.

Tip: Check the announced stage before bedtime and again in the morning. That helps you plan charging, lessons and critical tasks.

Simple, practical ways to cope at home, school, and campus

Charge devices early. Keep power banks topped up and use low-power modes on phones and laptops. For students: download course materials, lecture slides and readings for offline use. Teachers and lecturers can pre-record short lessons and share them before scheduled outages so learning continues.

Use LED lights and battery-powered lamps to extend lighting. For small electronics, a UPS protects desktop computers and network devices for short outages and prevents data loss. For longer outages, consider a small inverter with a deep-cycle battery or a solar kit. Start small: a single-socket inverter or a 100W portable solar panel can keep phones, Wi-Fi routers and study lamps running.

Safety matters. Never run petrol or diesel generators inside enclosed spaces. Keep generators on stable ground, away from doors and windows, and turn them off before refueling. If you install a permanent backup system, use a qualified installer so the wiring meets safety rules and won’t feed back into the grid.

For schools and community centres: create a simple outage plan. Decide which rooms need power first (labs, admin offices, server rooms). Store printed copies of key classroom materials and contact lists. Train a small team to handle communications and safety checks during an outage.

Save money by picking the right option. UPS units are cheaper and protect gear for short interruptions. Inverters and batteries are better for repeated outages. Solar systems reduce fuel costs and are quieter, but need a higher upfront budget. Start with a cost estimate and scale as needed.

Want updates on Eskom-related education news? Follow our Eskom tag on African EduNews Tree, subscribe to alerts, and check our regular posts about how power issues affect schools, exams and campus life. We’ll share verified news and practical tips so you can plan smarter, study safer and keep daily routines moving even when the lights go out.