South Africans are left in the dark!
South African are fed up as they experienced one of the worst days yesterday without electricity in the history of the country.
Power cuts or “load shedding” as known by all was announced last week starting with a level 2.
TUESDAY - The Public Enterprises Minister announced that load shedding will be increased to a level 6 with immediate effect. The first time this happened was in December 2019 and for only one day.
What this means is that the electricity supplier Eskom will cut 6,000 MW of power nationally over a period of six hours spread throughout the day.
WEDNESDAY – The country experienced far more than six hours of load shedding. In areas like mine we had twelve hours without electricity in total. The times down was also completely different to the time schedule.
THURSDAY – I woke up this morning and I could switch my computer on! What a wonderful feeling.
You are not going to believe this. As I finished this sentence the electricity went down for two hours.
Is this the beginning of the destabilizing of the national power grid? As it is 8 million South Africans don’t have access to electricity.
The reasons for these power cuts:
- The demand to supply the country of electricity exceeds the ability to provide
- Sabotage of power stations
- Illegal connections
- Striking workers
These power cuts have severe implications for the country’s economy as small to medium enterprises are buckling under the pressure.
As it is the economy is already suffering from the devastating floods experienced in April this year.
A weaker second quarter can only harm the growth percentage of the previous quarter and stop International investors investing in South Africa.
| Logo | Channel | News |
|---|---|---|
 | Bloomberg | South Africa is being hit by the worst power outages in more than two years |
 | Reuters | South Africa's struggling state utility Eskom implemented Pic the worst power cuts in more than two years |
 | eNCA Africa | Eskom a major risk to South African economy |
It is time for South Africa to wake up!
- Significant development and investment is needed to be applied to ensure that natural gas sectors and renewable sources is investigated and put to the
- Policy reforms and clear action plans need to be established and put into place
- Allow for new producers to supply electricity
- Get rid of those illegal connection
- Clear action against those who sabotage power stations
- Improve maintenance on power stations
My advice to South Africans and businesses in particular; get off the grid as quickly as possible!
25% to @worldsmile
Determination of Club Status refers to the https://steemworld.org/transfer-search Web-based Application
Thank you for supporting the World Smile Project by assigning a 25% share reward to World Smile ProjectElectricity is so important. Electricity self-reliance is even better.
Any scope for some sort of SolarSteem project to support your house and a few neighbouring ones?
South Africa is a sunny country.
@ubongudofot has made a good start on this in Nigeria.
Thank you for the reply on my post.
For the first time I now realize how difficult it is to go without electricity. We've been spoiled!
We have just moved to the coast and is renting a home in the interim period.
Unfortunately the owners did not cater for any backup systems and we've been stuck for hours without electricity. It is so frustrated!
I appreciated this, thank you!! However, there are households which needs it far more than us.
I am currently busy putting a WSP project together but I must be honest, I am torn between giving underprivelge households electricity and putting food in the tummies of children.
In the end I am sure the team will know which one to choose. (•ิ‿•ิ)
@ubongudofot Once we move into our own home you will just have to come for a visit to South Africa to show us how it is done. (•ิ‿•ิ)
Right...?
And its good as you are beign considered of other household.
Hopefully you come up with the most pressing one, and you get the needed support.
And as fornthe visit, that's sure..., but i won't leave South Africa without Fishing...🙂
Haha! That fishing date! Fishing there will be 😊
Even more Homes Use Solar PV in South Africa, I believe this would be one of the best Solution to @Patjewell's Electricity Heavy bills payment and and even some shedding problems.
Hopefully, she will get some capable Engineers over there to run the installation.
Thanks for the mention Sir.
The people that sabotage power stations should be electrocuted ⚡🪑
[edit] just been reading about it..WTF? https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/445206-eskom-power-station-sabotaged-fifth-time-in-a-year.html
I wonder how many big corporate companies have lights blazing all night with advertising signs?
The situation is bad. We even had power off during a major rugby match the other night. I just could not believe it! People lit the stadium with their mobile phones.
I can just shake my head. What will it take to get the government to get involved? During the midst of the crisis of this week our own president is sitting in Botswana addressing the G7 Leaders about energy of all things!! Makes my blood boil!
Of course, we are most likely to experience such, increasing, problems on our own doorstep: but logically, it looks like this all over the world! On the one hand, we have the need to reduce our emissions, to act more sustainably. On the other hand, we want to achieve this with more and more energy-guzzling digitalisation, automation and networking. This cat bites its own tail! The way out, individual and decentralised supply, self-sufficiency (wherever it is possible), is blocked by legal as well as political sides: too much independence is not wanted!
Natürlich bekommen wir solche, zunehmenden, Probleme am ehesten vor unserer eigenen Haustür mit: aber logischerweise sieht es überall auf der Welt so aus! Wir haben auf der einen Seite die Notwendigkeit, unsere Emissionen einzusparen, nachhaltiger zu agieren. Auf der anderen Seite wollen wir das mit immer mehr energiefressender Digitalisierung, Automatisierung und Vernetzung erreichen. Diese Katze beißt sich in den eigenen Schwanz! Der Ausweg, individuelle und dezentrale Versorgung, Autarkie (wo immer sie möglich ist), wird von juristischer wie auch politischer Seite blockiert: zu viel Unabhängigkeit ist nicht gewollt!
So true! Also blocked by corruption in South Africa
Sometimes it seems to be the "better" South Africa here in Germany... We have corruption. We have law bending. And we also have something called "cadre obedience": we follow orders from above because that's the way it's done. This makes change really difficult...
This is a sad situation. Power is very important to us all especially as steemians. It's really pathetic how this sector is being neglected in your country. I think it's time for solarsteem project in your country. It will be helpful.
Hopefully, something can be done about the supply of power in your country. Let's hope for the better
So far 8 hours of no electricity today 🙈
Best of all we are batlling with our data suppliers as the system is not on long enough to charge the batteries.
I can only go online every now & again.
The situation is worrisome. But you will just have to look for alternative. I can imagine how you are struggling with it. Hopefully, it will be rectified soon
Wow, great content, we've shared and upvoted on @southernafrica
As a Nigerian, i feel surprised that people hardly go days without power supply. Here in Nigeria, we sometimes stay for a week without any power supply. Well... We are the giant of Africa.
Its well ma'am, i pray your government tackles the issue on time.
We do have a generator but with the cost of fuel we cannot afford to keep it on.
We moved to the coast and the place we stay don’t have any backup system like solar panels so yah, we are feeling it.
I also pray for a fast solution!
Thank you for your support 🤛🏻
#world simile
Lights stability is one of the major challenges in most African countries. Depending on the government to carry out this kind of project to reach out to all citizens will be daunting, therefore project movement by groups (e.g world simile project-betterlife) should emerge and take up the challenges and provide possible solutions.
#Worldsmile-Betterlife
What a disturbing thing that you have experienced friend. I'm sorry about the electricity problem in your country. Keep.patience and be stronger to face all them
Great news! Today was better. We wake up to darkness this morning and there’s currently no electricity but at least the power cut was only for 6 hours today.
Thank you for your visit! 🌼
Oh I see..hope its will be more better