*I grew up in Nigeria where you could have no light for days and weeks. The Generator business is booming still. Who would want it to end? NEPA is an abbreviation for National Electric Power Authority and Nigerians’ interpretation of power cuts is, Never Expect Power Always. They call it Load-shedding in South Africa which we’ll definitely discuss. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, nothing has changed, still the same, getting worse, and the failed electricity authority.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) was formed in 2005 by the National government of the day with the hope that things would change … Wolf in sheep’s clothing as they say. Poor consumers, consuming nothing. Blackouts in Nigeria even today are often met with the exclamation: “NEPA has taken the light!”

Now, in South Africa, electricity consumers are informed how long electricity will be off, so they can be prepared. I had my fair share of experiencing Load-shedding when I visited Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Even South African cartoonists make do, managing to produce their cartoons, day in and day out with Load-shedding waiting to strike! It’s always a rush for time or time planning. Load-shedding is an action to reduce the load on something like the interruption of electricity supply to avoid excessive load on ESKOM‘s generating plant. Once you get your head around Load-shedding you just adapt, and plan, like charging your mobile phone and other devices ahead of when there is likely to be another Load-shedding. Power would be unavailable for two hours as alerted and lights would be back on, at times as stipulated. The hours are getting longer though, and South Africans are not amused at all. I can’t imagine the winter season. No light. and no HEAT ….. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Eskom is a South African electricity public utility. It is the worst nightmare for many South Africans and their businesses. Electricity Minister, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is not popular as well due to Load shedding hurting businesses, services and disrupting people’s lifestyles. He is not liked for his inability to deal with the situation. Hospitals, Dentistry, and malls need to have power constantly, as well as some other places that cannot afford to be struck by Load-shedding.

Plunging towns and cities into Load shedding at night is cause for alarm and worries many as robberies surge due to criminals taking advantage of South Africa’s power outages thus undermining crime prevention measures. Hence security such as gated neighbourhoods/estates, fortified homes, dogs, some with electrified fences, and home security linked to security companies. Only God knows what else residents have in their homes for protection. Can you guess what I am guessing?

I visited the Lion and Safari Park in Northwest Province of South Africa, where tourists were, in what I call a caged truck to see wild animals while they roamed and slept freely within the beautiful and natural park surroundings.

I almost lost my money at the cash machine at the awesome Lion and Safari Park’s souvenir shop, As the money was coming out, the lights went off and made me ponder, what if my Debit card was also in the machine and got caught up in Load-shedding. Shop attendants gasped wondering if I had got my taxi money to take me back to Johannesburg. I had traveled far to get to the park and could not think how I would have been able to travel back there. I guess I would have called my bank to cancel the card.

Then there is chaos at the traffic lights when there is no power, hence causing gridlock. This I saw with my own eyes. For appointments, you have to set off early in case you are caught in traffic due to the traffic lights caught up in Load-shedding. Some beggars and homeless people have seized the opportunity to kit themselves out in reflective vests – and to take responsibility for directing traffic.

Load-shedding has caused South Africans so much frustration and aggravation in schools, restaurants, and all around. More are buying generators, Gas stoves, WIF and computer UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) devices, power banks, rechargeable light bulbs, and Solar LED floodlights to mention a few essentials.

South Africa is a beautiful country with awesome malls, many of them, tourist attractions (Tourists visit in droves), lovely and resilient people, Safari parks, seaports, mountains and terrains, natural sceneries, and a very well-built nation developed after apartheid and still developing. Load-shedding will not deter visits to this nation. It shouldn’t. But ESKOM must not fail South Africa.

 TAYO Fatunla whose work has been featured on MSN.com via EURweb.com is an award-winning British-Nigerian Comic Artist, Editorial Cartoonist, Writer, and Illustrator and is an artist of the African diaspora. He is a graduate of the prestigious Kubert School, in New Jersey, US., and recipient of the 2018 ECBACC Pioneer Lifetime Achievement Award for his illustrated OUR ROOTS creation and series – Famous people in Black History – He participated at UNESCO’s Cartooning In Africa forum held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the Cartooning Global Forum in Paris, France and has held a virtual OUR ROOTS cartoon workshop for SMITHSONIAN- National Museum of African Art, Washington D.C. His Fela Kuti image is prominently featured in Burna Boy’s mega-Afrobeat hit song “Ye”. – https://www.instagram.com/tfatunla123

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