The South African Government first used an electric device publicly around 1809, according to The Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa.

A Short History

In 1860, an early Arc-light was demonstrated in South Africa. The first electric telegraph, operating between Cape Town and Simon’s Town, was introduced in 1860, and in 1861 the Post Office used the telegraphic system for a time signal for the first time.

In 1881, the local railway system was illuminated for the first time utilizing electricity, while in May 1882, Port Elizabeth opened the country’s first telephone exchange.

In April 1882, electric arc lamps illuminated Cape Town’s Table Bay Docks for the first time. The Cape Times reported electricity use by The Cape Colonial Parliament for the first time in May 1882.

Rapid Development and Growth

There was easy access to funds from the early 1990s to the early 2000s. In the centuries to follow, electricity usage increased rapidly throughout South Africa. Access to the national electricity grid increased from 34% to 84% between 1990 and 2011. The over-development of infrastructure in the 1980s and access to a well-trained workforce directly contributed to this development.

Introducing New Terminology

Lacking the capacity to meet the growing electricity demand, Eskom first rolled out load-shedding schedules in the latter months of 2007, starting in early 2008. The company indicated that this would allow for maintenance periods for generators and the recovery of stockpiles of coal before the coming winter when electricity was expected to surge.

The lack of maintaining existing infrastructure, a shortage of developing new infrastructure, and a skilled workforce knowledgeable enough to maintain and repair the ageing technology contribute to the problem for years to come. More and more load-shedding schedules are introduced as time passes.

Contributing Factors

Within the ranks of the national power supplier elite, large-scale corruption contributes to the difficulty of meeting everyday power demands by a growing South African economy and a rapidly increasing populace.

The refusal of informal settlements to pay for their electricity usage also hampers Eskom’s capacity to meet the demands for more power. Eskom’s inability to cut the power to informal settlements that do not pay their bills does not resolve the situation.

2022

In 2022, rolling blackouts are happening more and more frequently. Another price hike is on the books. The rates keep spiralling upwards despite a radical reduction in people’s income since the inception of lockdowns in 2020.

A fast-declining middle-class taxpayer base continues to pay more and more to foot the bills due to wide-scale corruption and non-payment of services by some informal sectors.

There appears to be no clear strategy in how the increased rates will allow the powerhouse of South Africa to meet the growing demands for electricity. Soon, another huge electricity hike will be preceded by more drawn-out load-shedding schedules.