ANS4402S

SOCIETIES IN TRANSITION 2023

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Signed:……ER…………

Date: …31 August 2023………

LOAD SHEDDING: SOCIO-ELECTRICAL TRANSITIONS…

Introduction

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Load shedding, the controlled disruption of electricity supply, has become a factor that South
Africans consider when navigating everyday life. An imbalance between electricity demand
and supply has led to the prevalence of power outages, showing that people’s relationships
with energy are changing. Load shedding brings a disconnect to an energy supply that is
assumed to be reliable, leaving many South Africans unable to carry out daily personal and
social routines as usual. In addition to people not being able to use appliances needed for
different activities like cooking and bathing, there has been an increase in socioeconomic
challenges like financial stability and relationship problems. This shows the workings of a
political ecology where relationships of power are negotiated between people’s identities and
social, political, economic, and environmental worlds. This essay will use statistical data to
consider load shedding as a moment of transition, where daily life is reconfigured because of
the consequences of an unreliable energy connection.

Decrease in electricity availability

FIGURE 1.2

Decrease in electricity availability

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Figure X shows the hours of national load shedding that was experienced in South Africa
between 2015 and 2022. The graph shows that load shedding has been increasing
exponentially from 2018, with 120 days of load shedding accounted for by The Outlier in
2022. The data from this graph shows the scheduled power outages across the nation and
differentiates between the different stages of load shedding. In 2015, the first year that load
shedding was experienced (), 836 hours of stage one and stage two load shedding occurred.
In 2022, there were approximately 1000 hours of stage two, 500 hours of stage three, 1000
hours of stage five, and a few hundred hours of stages five and six. So far, South Africa has
had 210 with load shedding in 2023. The data shows that South Africans who depend on
electricity as an energy source have had to deal with and adapt to the effects that load
shedding has on everyday life.

Changing Supply/Demand

FIGURE 2.1

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FIGURE 2.2

Figure 2.2 presents data collected by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
(CSIR) shows that there has been a decrease in electricity supply by Eskom between 2010
and 2021. It details how many TW of electricity Eskom has generated for the time period, as
well as specific contributions to the energy grid by different supply sources. Not only does
the data show that overall electricity supply by Eskom is declining, but also suggests that
South Africa’s relationships with fuel sources are changing. While the coal supply to the grid
has decreased, wind, solar photovoltaics (PV), Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), pumped
storage and hydro power have all increased. While diesel and gas supplies decreased
significantly in 2016 and 2017, there was a gradual increase between 2017 and 2020. This
information suggests that Eskom is moving away from fossil fuels like coal and towards
accessing more renewable forms of energy such as solar and wind. Thus, although the data
is not focused on load shedding, it provides some more context to the changing state of
energy in South Africa. Global movements towards sustainable energy supports the data by
showing a society in transition as the transition relates to the earth and how we interact with
it.

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Mental Health Changes

FIGURE 3.1

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FIGURE 3.2

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The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) presented load shedding
statistics based on surveys completed by 1836 participants. The infographic shows
employment and age details of participants, which adds context to the information
presented. Both age and employment, among other factors, are characteristics that can
influence an individual’s relationship and experience with energy and load shedding. Almost
half of the participants were between 36 and 55 years old, with 25% 18-35 year olds and
26% over the age of 56. The data shows that load shedding can influence daily life in various
ways, showing main challenges and coping mechanisms. 73% of participants reported crime
during load shedding. This implies that load shedding and its effects– such as darkness and
faulty security systems– changes existing safety and security networks, increasing crime
risks for communities. Fear of job loss and long-term damage to the South African economy
were experienced by almost all participants, increasing financial stress for both employed
and unemployed people. Depression, anxiety, and other personal challenges was
experienced by a significant amount of the participant group.

Figure Y is a graph showing the results of research done on the emotional impacts that load
shedding may have had in 2022 and 2023. The aim was to measure emotions and
happiness levels of South Africans by considering X (formerly known as Twitter) posts with
an algorithm. The research focused on posts hourly and daily for 3 days each year.
According to the research, respondents experienced an increase in anger and disgust,
negative feelings that were directed at ESKOM and the government (). Fear and sadness
were related to things like financial instability that increased because of load shedding’s
negative influence on the economy (). During the same time that there was an increase in
negative emotions, there was a decrease in happiness. This implies that load shedding had
detrimental effects on emotions based on the data that was acquired from Twitter for the
time period. To reflect on this with the experiences I had during my own research in
Manenberg, Bonteheuwel, and Woodstock, feelings of anger and disgust were common in
daily expressions about load shedding. Load shedding was referred to as ‘kak’ or ‘shit’ on
four occassions with different interlocutors. The association of excrement with load shedding
can be considered a reflection of the disgust felt towards ESKOM and the government, and
is an indication of not only emotions but also changing perspectives about the institutions
responsible for providing a reliable energy supply.

Conclusion
The statistical data presented in this essay shows that load shedding is the result and cause
of a society in transition. Although the data on the direct effects of load shedding is
emergent, trends in electricity and energy can also contribute to understanding load
shedding as a moment of transition in South Africa. Changes in energy supply and demand,
the economy, and people’s mental states are indicative of load shedding’s consequences on
daily life. As a preventative measure, load shedding serves to control the unbalanced
demand and supply of electricity that South Africa has. An increase in electricity demand and
decrease in supply could be considered one of the reasons for the rise in load shedding from
2018. The impacts of load shedding on care networks are many, although statistical data
may not be focused on care. The negative effects that load shedding has on mental health,
relationships, and financial instability create the need for care to adapt and evolve with the
changes that load shedding brings. Alternative energy sources and coping mechanisms for

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load shedding effects suggest that the disconnect from electricity urges people to access
personal capacities to continue living.

REFERENCE LIST

Alison Hughes, Richard Larmour

Hughes, A., Larmour, R., 2021. RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION IN SOUTH

<ahref='[Link]
statistics'>South Africa Electricity Access 1996-2023</a>. [Link]. Retrieved
2023-08-30.

Calitz, J. Wright, J.G. (2021) ?Statistics of utility-scale power generation in South Africa in
2020? Available online: [Link]