Load shedding: Will Mzansi spend Christmas in the dark?

Load shedding: Will Mzansi spend Christmas in the dark? – Here’s what we know

South Africans are waiting with bated breath to find out whether or not load shedding will be implemented on Christmas Day.

As families gather to enjoy a festive feast on Christmas day, the probability that leftovers will be thrown into the rubbish bin is likely. Image: Pixabay

National power supplier, Eskom is not yet sure whether load shedding will be implemented on Christmas day or not.

The power utility is currently implementing Stage 4 rolling blackouts and there seems to be a glimpse of hope as load shedding will be downgraded on Saturday, 24 December.

WILL WE HAVE LOAD SHEDDING ON CHRISTMAS?

In a brief statement on Friday, 23 December, Eskom said Stage 3 load shedding will be implemented from 05:00 on Saturday until 05:00 on Sunday, 25 December.

“Eskom will confirm the load shedding arrangements for Christmas Day based on the state of the power system,” the company said.

ALSO READ: Tshwane: Here’s your UPDATED load shedding schedule for FRIDAY

Here are some tips to mitigate against risks caused by load shedding:

Make use of surge protection: Electric surges are one of the biggest causes of damage to equipment during a power outage. Installing a surge protection device can help minimise some damage in unforeseen situations. Have a surge protection device fitted to your electrical distribution board or, alternatively, at the power outlet to the electronic device.
Ensure that your alarm system is working and the backup battery is fully functional to provide power to the system in the event of load shedding.
Spare torch or headlamp: Keep a torch in your car in case you arrive home at night during a power outage. Most smartphones have built-in torch or torch apps, which come in handy during unexpected power outages.
Charge your cellphone, laptop, and tablet: Ensure your cellphone, laptop, and tablet devices are fully charged ahead of scheduled blackouts. Be sure to charge them again as soon as possible after the power returns. It’s also a good idea to have an emergency phone charger (like a power bank) close by. This comes in handy during extended power outages.
Gas for cooking and lighting: Get a small LP gas bottle and lamp. It gives good quality lighting for a large area and can also be used for cooking and boiling water. It’s a good idea to keep hot water in a thermal flask so that you can make hot drinks.