The City of Tshwane has strongly denied reports that it will implement a scheduled power outage on Friday, 13 June. A message circulating on various platforms claimed a transformer shutdown would affect residents, businesses, and the environment, sparking concern across the metro.
The city swiftly issued a statement to reassure the public that the power outage alert was false and not issued by any of its departments.
“The city communicates planned and unplanned service interruptions through the following official channels,” it said, listing its website, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) accounts and formal statements issued on official letterheads.
Urging residents to ignore the ‘fake’ power outage alert
According to the fake message, urgent preparations were needed before the power outage. Businesses were advised to plan for disruption, while residents were warned to expect widespread impact. However, city officials have clarified that no such instruction has been issued through the municipality’s approved platforms.
“We urge residents to remain vigilant of such fake news,” the statement added.
Encouraging Public to Report Misinformation
The city has encouraged residents to combat misinformation by actively replying to suspicious messages or impersonators.
“Anyone who encounters suspicious communications or persons impersonating city officials is encouraged to report them immediately to the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department at 012 358 7095/6 for verification and investigation,” the city said.
This is not the first time Tshwane residents have been confused by unverified information spread through unofficial channels. The city continues to call for community cooperation to prevent unnecessary panic and ensure the accuracy of public communication.
What steps do you take to verify public service information before sharing it with others?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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