‘We are normalising the abnormal’ — SA slams Eskom’s advice on what to do during load-shedding
Power utility Eskom caught heavy flak over its list of things the public can do during load-shedding.
This week, Eskom requested that the public invest in a few things, including making sure that they save their batteries.
This comes after the power utility announced it would implement stage 4 rolling blackouts countrywide until 5am on Friday.
Thereafter, stage 2 load-shedding will continue until 5am on Saturday.
Eskom said this was due to ongoing generation capacity shortages.
“While Eskom regrets the escalation in load-shedding, it is necessary to ration the remaining emergency generation reserves which have been utilised extensively as we are not getting the reduction in demand expected from the implementation of stage 2 load-shedding.”
According to Eskom, if load-shedding is getting you down there are some things you can do, including making use of surge protection, buying a portable dongle for the internet, stocking up on a first-aid kit and investing in an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) device for your computer.
#Stage2 #loadshedding will start at 11h00
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) November 5, 2021
Eskom customers can download their loadshedding schedules from https://t.co/SQhZfdzlHR or on the MyEskom App pic.twitter.com/0GpfhJ3oul
On social media, Eskom's plan and tips were met with mixed reaction, with some expressing their frustration with continuing blackouts.
Here is a snapshot of some of the reactions:
We are normalising the abnormal. https://t.co/FVaRU3hpP9
— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) November 5, 2021
goodbye to electricity on weekends, here is a tip for you @Eskom_SA after summer comes autumn and winter, start working in your schedules now to avoid our early disappointment 🤮🙄
— Karin Taljaard (@KarinTaljaard) November 5, 2021
Where can we download the schedule of people who stole and put us in this position?
— Minister of Swearing and Green Tea (@Hamish_Hoosen) November 5, 2021
So you developed an app for the schedules, but dont have money to fix the problems?
— Juandré Mellet (@skull_ogk) November 5, 2021
It's not like we tell the weather man that just because he forecast rain for today that it is sabotage😂. What's happening at eskom is 100% incompetence and/or work ethic.
— JP le Roux (@Chiefomatic) November 5, 2021
Has your management considered small businesses when taking such measures? Not everyone can afford to operate without electricity and you go around killing small businesses in such economy?
— siyabonga mtsha (@Siyabonga_Mtsha) November 5, 2021
You owe me a new flat screen tv by the way. My power supply unit for the tv is damaged because of your loadshedding. And that flat screen was such a nice gift.😠😒
— Ncontsi (@ncontsi) November 5, 2021
Is there any lawyers that can help us sue Eskom? I want to be reimbursed for losses because they think we think this is normal. It's not.
— Duke (@Lanches59287740) November 5, 2021