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South Africans are coping with increased power cuts that have hit households and businesses alike across the country. The power cuts are continuing unabated for years. Sometimes, it lasts for nine hours a day at a stretch
South Africans are coping with increased power cuts that have hit households and businesses alike across the country. The power cuts are continuing unabated for years. Sometimes, it lasts for nine hours a day at a stretch. The country’s state-owned power utility, Eskom, is under heavy criticism from all quarters. This was compounded by a strike by Eskom workers, breakdowns of its aging coal-fired power plants, insufficient generation capacity and corruption etc.
The prolonged power cuts are hitting South Africans in the winter months of the Southern Hemisphere. Many households rely on electricity for heat, light and cooking. Small and large businesses have had to close down for prolonged periods. Alternatively, they have to operate generators to run the business enterprises, which is a costly affair.
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https://trendsnafrica.com/south-africas-deepening-economic-woes/
Anger and frustration are widespread among business owners and customers at the power cuts. The power blackouts are here to stay since it will take years to substantially increase South Africa’s capacity to generate power. South Africa depends heavily on coal-fired plants, which causes air pollution.