The South African government has dismissed as “false and misleading” social media claims that Stage 6 loadshedding will resume on 10 January.
Government communications issued a fake news alert on Thursday, stating that Eskom has “not implemented nor planned any such measures” and strongly condemned the spread of disinformation.
The false claims had begun circulating widely on social media platforms, causing concern among residents who have enjoyed 231 consecutive days without power cuts.
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“Claims of Stage 6 loadshedding starting 10 January are false and misleading,” the government stated on its official social media channels, directing the public to follow only official Eskom communications for accurate updates.
System remains stable
Eskom’s latest operational data shows the power system continues meeting electricity demand with significant capacity margins. Current unplanned outages stand at 6 662MW, the lowest level recorded since 2019.
The utility plans to bring 5 585MW of generation capacity online ahead of Monday’s evening peak, with demand forecast at 19 545MW supported by 23 894MW of available capacity.
Eskom recorded an Energy Availability Factor of 69.14% in December 2025, representing a 12.57% year-on-year improvement. The power utility has not used diesel generation for two consecutive weeks.
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South Africa has experienced only 26 hours of loadshedding during the current financial year, occurring in April and May.
Distribution challenges continue
Despite generation stability, some communities remain without power due to weather-related infrastructure damage during the festive season. Eskom reported a 40% increase in distribution network faults compared to the same period last year.
The utility continues implementing load reduction in high-risk areas where illegal connections and meter tampering threaten network safety.
Eskom has removed 70 feeders from load reduction programmes, benefiting 95 989 households. However, 481 358 households still require load reduction removal by March under the utility’s phased programme.
Smart meter installations have reached 73 523 households, representing 12.73% of the 577 347 target for March.
Official channels only
The government emphasised that residents should rely solely on official Eskom communications for power system updates. The utility’s next operational update is scheduled for Friday 9 January.
Eskom published its Summer Outlook in September, projecting no loadshedding until March due to sustained generation improvements.
Free Basic Electricity registrations stand at 579 360 customers, representing 27.6% of 2.1 million eligible households.
Residents can report infrastructure problems via Eskom’s Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.
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