'Election season is wild!': The Kiffness reacts to no load shedding

Source: The South African

South Africans - including muso The Kiffness - have been left pleasantly surprised and somewhat suspicious by Eskom's longstanding record of no load shedding across the country.

To date, the energy provider has provided three weeks and counting of uninterrupted energy.

Load shedding was implemented in 2007, ushering in a national energy crisis.

On Wednesday, 17 April, Eskom announced that load shedding would continue to remain suspended.

A statement on the official X account read: "Load shedding will continue to be suspended until further notice. This follows a period of 21 consecutive days and, as of midday today, 535 hours without load shedding".

Minister of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramakgopa retweeted the message, adding that the results were due to "sustained generation capacity, adequate emergency reserves, and reduced electricity demand from the grid."

Reacting to the news, The Kiffness jokingly tweeted: "Imagine other countries announced a basic service working uninterrupted for three weeks as a milestone, lol.

@JaysonMacmilla4: "May 30th will be stage 90 load shedding to make up for all the electricity we've had. And the extra looting the comrades have missed out on. Your candles, lighters, matches, paraffin, gas, etc, dry sticks, and magnifying glasses will all be taken".

While Eskom has broken a record for the longest period without load shedding, 2023 saw the record for 332 days - out of 365 days in a year - of load shedding.

According to IOL, South Africans experienced less than two weeks of no blackouts last year. This occured for one day in March, 11 days in October and one day in December.

Will South Africans enjoy their supply of electricity, many have expressed their concerns that things can change after the elections on 29 May 2024.

According to energy expert Chris Yelland, the reprieve is likely temporary.

Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, the expert claimed that while three new units at Kusile power station had been added to the grid, maintenance was still planned.

He said: "Each unit will be shut down for about three months to put in place the so-called final solution. Which hopefully will return these three units back into service thereafter on a permanent basis."

According to EFF leader Julius Malema, load shedding could return as soon as voting day.