The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Load Shedding During Easter Weekend in South Africa

The Easter weekend is a time for people to come together and celebrate with family and friends. It’s a time when we can take a break from our hectic lives and enjoy some downtime. Unfortunately, in South Africa, this year’s Easter weekend comes with the added stress of load shedding. For those who don’t know, load shedding is when the power supplier cuts the electricity supply to different parts of the country to reduce the load on the power grid. This means you could be stuck without power for hours at a time. But fear not, as a journalist, I’ve done some research and come up with some fun activities to do during the Easter weekend in South Africa when the power goes off because of load shedding.

Indoor Activities

With no electricity, it’s a great time to put down your phone, tablet or laptop and reconnect with some old-fashioned fun. There are plenty of indoor activities to keep you entertained. Here are some ideas:

1. Play board games: Dust off the old Monopoly, Scrabble or Cluedo board and have some fun with family and friends. Not only are board games a great way to bond, but they will also keep you off your electronic devices.
2. Read a book: There’s no better time to catch up on your reading than during load shedding. Whether it’s a new novel or a cookbook, take some time to immerse yourself in a good read.
3. Do some puzzles: Jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, and Sudoku are all great ways to keep your mind active during load shedding. They’re also great for improving cognitive skills.
4. Have a candlelit dinner: Just because the power is out doesn’t mean you can’t have a fancy dinner. Grab some candles, set the table, and enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner with your significant other.

Outdoor Activities

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to head outdoors, there are still plenty of things you can do. Here are some ideas:

1. Go for a hike: South Africa is home to some beautiful trails and hiking routes. Take advantage of the daylight and head out for a hike. Just make sure you’re back home before it gets dark.
2. Have a picnic: Pack a basket of snacks, grab a blanket and head to the nearest park for a picnic. It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with family and friends.
3. Play some sports: If you have some sporting equipment lying around, grab it and head to the park for a game of soccer, cricket or touch rugby. It’s a great way to get some exercise and have fun with friends.
4. Visit a museum or art gallery: If you’re in the mood for some culture, head to your nearest museum or art gallery. It’s a great way to learn something new and spend some time indoors without electricity.

Tips for Surviving Load Shedding

Load shedding can be stressful, but with a few tips, you can survive it with ease. Here are some tips:

1. Stock up on essentials: Make sure you have enough batteries, candles, matches, and torches to last you through load shedding. It’s also a good idea to have some non-perishable foods on hand.
2. Stay informed: Keep up-to-date with load shedding schedules and plan your activities accordingly. You can check the schedule online or download an app that will notify you when load shedding is scheduled.
3. Make it fun: Load shedding doesn’t have to be a drag. Try to make it fun by doing activities you wouldn’t normally do. It’s a great opportunity to bond with family and friends.
4. Be mindful of your carbon footprint: When the power is out, it’s tempting to run a generator or burn candles all day. However, it’s important to be mindful of your carbon footprint and try to limit your energy use as much as possible.

Load shedding may not be ideal, but with a little creativity and planning, you can have a fun and enjoyable Easter weekend in South Africa. Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, there are plenty of activities to keep you entertained. And remember, even when the power is out, you can still have fun and make memories with family and friends.

Easter Weekend Load Shedding Schedule

Power utility Eskom has announced its load shedding measures for the upcoming Easter weekend in South Africa. While Stage 4 load shedding will be implemented on Wednesday from 4pm until Friday at 5am, varying stages of outages up to Stage 3 will be implemented from then until Tuesday. However, in a welcome respite for many South Africans, Eskom aims to suspend load shedding between 5am and 4pm on Sunday and Monday. Eskom has confirmed that it will release a further update should any significant changes occur.

Here’s a breakdown of the schedule:

Wednesday, 5 April

Stage 3: until 4pm
Stage 4: from 4pm to midnight

Thursday, 6 April

Stage 4: all day and night

Friday, 7 April

Stage 4: midnight to 5am
Stage 1: 5am to 4pm
Stage 2: 4pm to midnight

Saturday, 8 April

Stage 2: midnight to 5am
Stage 1: 5am to 4pm
Stage 3: 4pm to midnight

Sunday, 9 April

Stage 3: midnight to 5am
Load shedding suspended: 5am to 4pm
Stage 3: 4pm to midnight

Monday, 10 April

Stage 3: midnight to 5am
Load shedding suspended: 5am to 4pm
Stage 3: 4pm to midnight

Eskom has attributed a proportion of the capacity constraints to delays in completing repairs to units at Kusile, Medupi, and Tutuka power stations. However, the utility has also seen a return of a generation unit at Arnot Power Station over the past 24 hours, which has helped bring the overall generating capacity out of service for maintenance down to 6,400MW ahead of winter. Eskom continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as necessary.