Manufacturers Suffer as Load Shedding Continues Unabated

South Africa’s ongoing load shedding woes have continued to wreak havoc on the country’s business confidence in the first quarter of 2023. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index (BCI), released recently, recorded a decline from 38 in the fourth quarter to 36 in the first quarter of 2023. This decline is a consequence of load shedding, […]

The Importance of Water Conservation during Load Shedding

The Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation has called on the public to reduce their water consumption as much as possible during and shortly after load shedding. This is due to the continued long periods of Eskom blackouts, which have put pressure on the infrastructure. The Western Cape’s Department of Water and Sanitation held a […]

Lights Out? The Future of Energy in the Hands of the New Minister

South Africa’s new electricity minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has a challenging task ahead of him. While curtailing load shedding, or rolling blackouts, is a top priority, he must also fulfill the already-in-place “energy action plan,” which includes several crucial interventions. The plan’s primary focus is to resolve issues with Eskom, the country’s power utility, and enhance […]

South Africa’s electricity crisis: A look at the minister’s plans to end load-shedding.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the country’s first-ever minister of electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, to tackle the worst-ever electricity crisis being experienced in the country. Millions of people are without lights daily for up to 10 hours in cities and towns across South Africa, which has caused much frustration, not least on the roads […]

Energy Shortages Wreak Havoc on South Africa’s GDP

The South African economy has experienced a decline of 1.3% in the fourth quarter of 2022, surpassing the anticipated decrease of 0.4%. Various sectors including finance, trade, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and general government services contributed to the decrease in gross domestic product (GDP). Notably, the finance, real estate & business services industry contracted by 2.3%, […]