“We’re seeing an increase in co-ordinated attacks on water, power and comms infrastructure,” he wrote. In a viral Twitter thread this week, a neighbourhood watch volunteer with civil rights group AfriForum argued South Africa “has collapsed”. The official warned of mass looting and civil unrest if the grid collapsed, quoting an unnamed individual as saying, “What’s left after a blackout would be what was left after a civil war.”Ī ‘bottle globe’ in the roof of a shack in Olievenhoutbosch. “There are a few feeder lines from other countries, but not enough to help with a black start situation.” “Eskom estimates, in the best case scenario, it would take six to 14 days to restart the power grid,” the official said. They said one of the biggest dangers was the amount of time required to bring the system back online from a total collapse. The US Overseas Security Advisory Council convened a meeting with representatives from several large US-based corporations with operations in South Africa, as well as a number of local companies, to discuss business security concerns amid the energy crisis.Īt the meeting, a recording of which was viewed by MyBroadband, a US government official said while a total power grid failure was unlikely, it was “something we need to start thinking about”. It comes after the US government last month warned its stakeholders in South Africa to prepare for a total collapse of the power grid, tech publication MyBroadband reported. Ongoing conditions have led to increased protests and demonstrations, and in some cases, civil unrest, throughout the country.” “Residences can be targeted when lights are out and security systems are not functioning. “For example, traffic jams due to power outages provide opportunities for smash-and-grab crime,” it said. “Blackouts can also affect water availability, internet connectivity, mobile phone network coverage, fuel availability, residential security features and food supply.”ĭFAT warned power outages can increase crime. “Rolling blackouts (load shedding) are occurring throughout South Africa which are affecting private residences, businesses, municipal lighting, traffic lights and hotels,” Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said earlier this month. Credit: /XhMYvWnMlb- Joel Pollak February 15, 2023 The electricity from Eskom, the state-owned power company, cuts out, and then the private generators kick in. The present situation demands decisive action and immediate solutions from the government of the day.What âload sheddingâ in South Africa ð¿ð¦ looks and sounds like: Urban Square, Century City mall, Cape Town, South Africa, 4:07 a.m., February 15, 2023. Further, the Minister must be cognisant of the veiled threats to the wider school population and must therefore diffuse the present inflammatory environment. It is imperative that these measures be immediately implemented to ensure that the wider population are not subjected to “distress” as experienced earlier. – Immediately establish a temporary office at the closest available community centre in order to process the scrap iron workers applications if eligible. – Reintroduce the Direct Impact Community Outreach Programme. – Convene a meeting with the affected scrap iron workers in order to satiate their request for an audience with those in authority. Therefore, Minister Cox must demonstrate leadership and foresight and address the current situation by undertaking the following: The workers, according to a newspaper article has espoused their position and limitations in their efforts at accessing the grants online. Recent pronouncements by Minister Cox that the affected scrap iron workers can access grants through her line Ministry whilst this is a mere exercise in public relations, this call has failed to placate their incendiary protest action, since they have not accessed the facilities offered for whatever reason(s). Despite the protracted protest action and the scrap iron workers calls for dialogue in order to ventilate their situation, the government remains aloof and has refused to accommodate their valid request. The People’s National Movement (PNM) government and the Minister of Social Development and Family Services Donna Cox continues to display their wanton arrogance, disregard, and indifference to the entire population by failing to decisively address the scrap iron workers concerns.
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