A power cut survival guide (y'all are gonna need it)

As South Africans brace themselves for stage 2 power cuts across the country, Eskom has still not given an indication of when power might be restored to full capacity, leaving the country seeking alternative solutions.

Dark nights, no telly and limited food options (powerless fridges) have led to many taking to Twitter to vent their frustrations.

Mzansi's power problems made international news on Tuesday when the host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, visited his gran at her Soweto home while he was in the country for the recent Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg.

He asked his grandmother if she watched his show. She said she did not because of the constant power cuts. The entire clip has received over 2m views and was also posted on Noah's social media accounts.

So what do you need to survive the outages? Here are some tips.

Power cut schedule

Bookmark and save the link to Eskom's power cut schedule. It sounds basic but even though we have been warned we keep being surprised when it affects us.

You need to only enter your location and the site lets you know when you can expect to be in the dark, and for how long.

About that generator

Every time it happens, you promise yourself you should invest in a generator. Sound familiar? Considering Eskom U-turned on its announcement that there would be no power cuts, it's probably a worthwhile investment.

SA's leading retailers sell entry-level units that are suitable for household use for about R2,500.

Power bank

The first thing most people do when the power goes out is check to see how long their phone battery will last.

Enter a power bank. Nobody wants to be left out of Twitter when the darkness hits.

Plan your meals

Half the time most people have no idea what's for supper until they are hungry.

But all that may be a thing of the past. These days it's helpful to note the power cut schedule and plan your cooking.

It's probably best to start getting comfortable with food that doesn't need power to prepare.

You've got to love gas

A gas cylinder is probably the next best thing after a generator. With the right attachment, you can use it to light up a room or to cook.

In the meantime, prepare for angry messages like these dominating your timeline this December.