Lights out in parts of Gauteng as 'load reduction' strikes again

Soweto and Vaal residents in Gauteng can again expect the lights to go out on Wednesday night as Eskom implements "load reduction" - a localised form of rolling blackouts - from 5pm. 

Rolling blackouts began in some areas of Gauteng again in June, as the beleagured power utility spoke of ongoing illegal connections. 

In a statement on Wednesday, it said the cuts were in a bid to avoid network overloading in high density areas that were "prone to illegal connections, meter bypasses and vandalism of electricity infrastructure".