Merafong City Local Municipality Schedules Major Power Maintenance in Fochville
- Karen Scheepers
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The Merafong City Local Municipality has officially notified residents and businesses in Fochville of a planned electricity supply interruption scheduled for Saturday, 21 February 2026. This shutdown is part of a strategic infrastructure intervention aimed at modernizing the local power grid and ensuring the long-term reliability of the network.
Scope and Schedule of the Maintenance
The outage is expected to last for 10 hours, beginning at 08:00 am and concluding at 06:00 pm (18:00). According to the notice signed by Municipal Manager Dumisani D. Mabuza, the shutdown is required for essential maintenance and upgrades to the electricity network infrastructure. The work will be carried out by Eskom, reflecting a collaborative effort to improve system stability in an area that has recently faced significant service delivery pressures.
Safety and Precautionary Measures
In light of the interruption, the municipality has issued a standard safety advisory. Residents are urged to treat all electrical outlets as live throughout the duration of the outage, as power may be restored earlier than the anticipated 6:00 pm deadline without prior notice. Additionally, consumers are encouraged to:
Switch off all non-essential appliances.
Unplug sensitive electronic equipment to prevent damage from potential power surges when supply is reinstated.
Broader Context of Municipal Infrastructure
This maintenance comes at a critical time for Merafong City, which has been under intense scrutiny regarding its utility management. Recent reports indicate that the municipality is navigating a complex financial landscape, including a substantial debt of approximately R1.6 billion owed to Eskom and Rand Water. This has led to the implementation of a Distribution Agency Agreement (DAA), a "backdoor" takeover of sorts where electricity revenue is paid directly to Eskom to settle arrears.
While the municipality faces challenges, including a qualified audit from the Auditor-General and ongoing water supply restrictions due to ageing infrastructure and sinkholes, this planned maintenance at Fochville is presented as a "necessary step" toward stabilizing a fragile energy environment.
The local administration has apologized for the inconvenience and thanked the community for their cooperation as they work toward their vision of a "sustainable, community-oriented and safe city."
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