South Africa had the cheapest electricity in the world, based on polluting coal, but also good advance planning and solid engineering. The Electricity Supply Commission, known as Eskom, was a world leader in burning low grade coal.

But soon after the advent of democracy Government, the sole shareholder, decided that advance planning was not needed, and maintenance was a waste of good money. By 2008 the grid was buckling under the strain, and load shedding was introduced.
 
Emergency reaction followed, a special War Room under the Vice-President, Cyril Ramaphosa, took over, and promises were made. President Zuma promised never, never ever again would there be load shedding.

Famous YouTuber Suzelle published a guide to making a load-shedding kit. 

Fast forward, and early December 2019 unplanned maintenance and welcome and torrential rains ushered in first stage two load shedding, then stage four, and soon after stage six load shedding. This means that half the capacity of the grid was unavailable, and users remained without power for up to five hours a day. And this from a Government that came to power on the slogan: Power to the people. 

They say that at stage ten Eskom officials will visit your house and take away your wife, the light of your life. Soon you heard comments: ‘We were load shat again’. And of course cartoonists and social media had a field day. But to kick off, President Ramaphosa, of War Room fame, cut short an official visit to Egypt and returned to express his shock at the crisis. And played paragraph 14 of the African Political Playbook: there were elements of sabotage!

 
Enjoy. And sorry, the social media does not always allow me to find the owner of the copyright, if any. 
 

 

 

 

 

Talking of the management of Eskom, this (imaginary) announcement: 'There is bad news, and there is good news. The bad news is that the sh*t is going to hit the fan. The good news is that, due to load shedding, the fan will be switched off.'

South Africans were not impressed: 

Government officials tried to point out that they tried to address the 2008 crisis by building two new power stations, the largest in the southern hemisphere. One, Medupi, is trying to come online, five years behind schedule and 300% over budget. 

Customers crowding shops to buy generators and candles quipped that Eskom had ensured a 'Black Friday' a week late. 

And so we look forward to a Candlemas with the candles back in place of honour. Thank you, Eskom!