Life without power: How South Africans are coping:
“How my family and I prepare for load-shedding is by buying a gas bottle for our stove which costs R400 to fill each month. I don’t always have that money, so some days I have to cook and boil water to bath on an open fire in my backyard,”
South Africa is in a state of crisis because of load-shedding. The outages have left people without power for extended periods — sometimes up to 12 hours at a stretch — adding hardship to their lives. People have had to adapt their lives to deal with this. Home life and work life have had to change to cope with high stages of load-shedding.
The back-and-forth and rumours of a possible total blackout have concerned most South Africans. A grid collapse would be devastating for the country. So, we wanted to find out what that would be like if this happened. We spoke to people who’ve had no power for an extended period — by that we mean for more than a few days — who have an idea of what a total blackout actually means.
Mpho Shidumo, who lives in Diepkloof, Soweto, says they were without electricity for three weeks because a substation in their area blew up.
“It was so challenging but we had to cope. We cooked with an open fire in our yard. We also used an open fire to warm water to bath,” Shidumo says.
Some days, they had to eat bread or buy takeaways just so they could have a meal before they slept. This took a toll on their pockets, which meant they had to find cheap food which is not necessarily the healthiest.
Shidumo says that his older brother bought a stove that uses wood to allow them to cook and bath.
Bridget Ndaba from Ivory Park in Tembisa says they have not had electricity for over a year.
“We were told that the transformer had exploded in our area — this was around March in 2022,” she says.
Ndaba says they have had little to no communication from the authorities about this situation and they have had to find ways to survive.
“The situation is not the best in our area. My family has had to install solar panels so that we can get through our day-to-day home activities,” she says.
Meanwhile her neighbour, Mrs Dlamini, who did not want to give her full name, says the circumstances have been challenging for her and her family.
“How my family and I prepare for load-shedding is by buying a gas bottle for our stove which costs R400 to fill each month. I don’t always have that money, so some days I have to cook and boil water to bath on an open fire in my backyard,” she says.
Dlamini says she has to wash laundry by hand because of not being able to use her washing machine.
“It’s winter now — you can imagine the pain I have to go through washing clothes with my hands in this weather — but that’s the only way,” she says.
They have also had to buy food every day. Their diet now has a lot of tinned food in it because it has a longer shelf life than fresh food.
Thembinkosi Shivambo, from Tswelopele in Tembisa, says they too have been without electricity for a year.
“We were told by our councillor that the transformer in our area has exploded because of cable theft. We understood, as he promised that the situation would be sorted out, but it’s now a year later,” he says.
“I have returned to living as I used to in the village. I do everything on an open fire.”
Shivambo says they have also had to buy food such as meat daily as the fridge does not work. He is forced to buy long-life products, such as milk, canned food and mealie meal.
How people cope with load-shedding
The country has seen a number of days on stage six this year, with talk of unofficially being on stage eight. How do people who can’t afford inverters, solar power or generators survive? How does load-shedding affect their daily routines?
A Tembisa resident, who asked to remain anonymous, who is the grandmother of three girls aged six, seven and 17, says load-shedding has brought her and her family nothing but pain.
“I have a gas stove, so I have to wake up at 4am every day to prepare their lunch as well as water for them to bathe. Straight after that, I have to bath, go to work, and function at 100%, every day,” she says.
Having the EskomSePush app has helped her plan her days around load-shedding and the gas stove means she can cook for her grandchildren and they never go to school having bathed in cold water.
“It is difficult but I try my best to plan ahead. I iron their uniform the night before — if we do have electricity. I pack their lunch the night before, but they do not like that, they like to take fresh lunch to school. I also make sure that, after dinner, we clean the house and do the laundry, so filth does not pile up,” she says.
Jolly Kids
“Sometimes the local substation blows up and we are without electricity for four days at a time. That is the hardest time. So, we make sure we fill our gas bottles for the stove, as well as the heater, to try to make the children as comfortable as possible.”
Matshidiso Ngwasheng, the principal of Jolly Kids, an early childhood development centre in Tembisa, says load-shedding puts a lot of strain for her and her staff. The television and fridge have been damaged by the power outages.
“I now have to put the food for the centre in my personal fridge so it does not spoil,” Ngwasheng says.
“We have to improvise to keep the centre running because we no longer have a TV and the kids have to be visually stimulated. My staff have downloaded all the visual material on their phones for the kids, which is sometimes not practical, but that’s how we have to prepare.”
Their wall-installed heaters run on electricity, which means they have had to buy a gas heater to keep the children warm on cold winter days.
“It is something that scares me so much which is why I make sure that teachers do not leave the classrooms when that gas heater is on, not even for a second, because these young ones are curious and I don’t even want to imagine what could happen,” she says.
When the Mail & Guardian visited the centre, they had already started preparing food — chopping vegetables and parboiling — for the following day to get around load-shedding.
“Sometimes the local substation blows up and we are without electricity for four days at a time. That is the hardest time. So, we make sure we fill our gas bottles for the stove, as well as the heater, to try to make the children as comfortable as possible,” Ngwasheng says.
She wishes the government could at least provide early-childhood centres with solar panels to enable them to handle their day-to-day business safely, especially because they work with children.
Her administrator, Jabu Fani, says he has to come in earlier than usual because he needs to make sure all the schools’ administration is done before the 8am to 10am load-shedding slot.
“This means I have to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to make it to work to make sure I get the important admin out of the way. Sometimes I come in and there is either a power cut or load-shedding, so I have to do things manually.”
Fani also tries to get through the next day’s admin and planning his manual templates in case he needs them during load-shedding the following day.
Meat and liquor
Joseph Madisha, one of the directors of Shi&Ma meat wholesale and liquor traders, says he buys 75 litres of diesel every other day to keep the fridges and other systems running.
A chunk of the business’s profits are going towards the fuel for the generator.
They are starting to prepare for the worst by getting quotations for solar panels to keep the business going.
“We got a quotation for this location, which is three million, and we have three locations. The total for all three locations is about 10 million,” Madisha says.
“I can’t say if the grid will collapse completely but I can say that my partners and I will do all we can to keep this business going.”
What about the middle class?
A 32-year-old programmer, from Midrand, who asked to remain anonymous, says he had to invest in an inverter “because I work from home and I need to be able to connect”.
He bought a 1000-watt inverter for R1 600. If he only plugs in his router, it can last him up to just two days, but if he plugs in his laptop, router, TV and Xbox, it only lasts about eight hours.
“It is convenient because load-shedding lasts for two to four hours at a time, so my life is not entirely disrupted,” he says.
Mr Mhlanga, a taxi owner, who did not want to give his full name, says he has had to beef up his security because of the risk of theft during load-shedding.
“I have always had security but I had to get more security because of load-shedding. People come to my yard and try to steal rims and parts. I also worry about the security of my family because it gets so dark. God knows what is happening in our yards when it gets like this.”
Mhlanga says load-shedding has not only affected him and his family but it has also hit his business.
“Business has been awful. More people are working from home and companies are shutting down. It has caused serious economic strife. I have had to let drivers go and some of my taxis are not operating because fuel prices are also high. All in the name of load-shedding.”
People and business owners are trying their best to keep afloat. They are making plans to get through the rolling blackouts — but it comes at a cost.
“I have never had such a negative relationship with time. I am constantly calculating minutes, hours and days. It is psychologically uncomfortable but we have to keep preparing because, when you are not prepared, everyone you love and yourself suffer. Load-shedding is not fair,” says the grandmother from Tembisa.
Lesego Chepape is a climate reporting fellow, funded by the Open Society Foundation for South Africa.
BMW’s M2 Comp a hoot to drive:
A brief history— the BMW 2002 Turbo two-door coupe was introduced in 1973 as a forerunner of what the world would later adopt en masse — turbocharging.
The 2002 Turbo was launched in the middle of an oil crisis, with Germany imposing laws to clamp down on fuel use … for a time.
The Turbo was built in limited numbers, with just 1?400 units made, and has since joined the ranks of rare classics, with reportedly just one on local soil right now.
About 38 years later, BMW unveiled the 2002 Turbo’s successor, the BMW 1 Series M Coupe, a short, stout entry into M-ownership with a feisty 250kW engine under the bonnet. It, too, has become a rare sight in South Africa.
In 2016, the 1M’s successor was launched — the first-generation BMW M2. With more power and space, the M2 would become the highest-selling M product in its 50-year history, with more than 60?000 first-gen M2s finding homes.
The latest iteration is the second-generation M2 gracing this page. The new M2 made its first appearance to the world at the BMW M Festival at Kyalami International Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg last year.
The reception was mixed, with many distressed by its grille and rectangular forms, me included. To my mind, the M2 didn’t quite resolve into something complete but I’m happy to report that, despite that, the new M2 is the most complete M2 ever made.
It is nothing groundbreaking but rather BMW improving an existing formula, one that has consistently garnered praise from driving enthusiasts. It takes an already excellent engine — namely the 3.0-litre, twin-turbo, high-revving unit — out of the M3 and M4 and couples it to a rear-wheel-drive, taut and short chassis.
The formula prioritises driver engagement, heaping focus on thrills and fluidity of movement. The result is a hoot of a sports car, which is more fun than its larger brethren because the dynamics are less complicated.
BMW has chosen to launch the M2 in the hot Arizona desert in the US and our route for the fiery coupe sees us head north into cowboy country. After about 100km of tiresome and uneventful main roads, our GPS politely tells us to change direction and head into the cactus-studded wilderness.
The roads are empty and undulating with all the corners and drop-offs you can imagine. After just about every crest is a sharp right-left sweep, followed by a long off-camber turn that eventually opens onto a straight, rising over another ridge and ditto, another series of twists.
The roads here are fantastic. The M2 comes into its own.
I’m in a 6-speed manual M2 in Toronto Red, the same car you see in the picture here. For absolute purist-driving engagement, this is the one to have. The pedals are perfectly positioned and the gear shift action is slick and decisive. The rev-matching assistance on the downshifts elicits additional grins.
The steering is classic M BMW, perhaps not as direct as a GT4 RS, but certainly close. It’s the feedback that is so good, despite the electromechanical steering. The weighting remains top-drawer, combined with the 50:50 weight distribution and engaging chassis.
The M2 is one of the most exciting drives of the year.
The power is linear and usable, all through the rev range. Peak power arrives at an aurally stimulating 6?250r/min. And the 338kW of power feels just right, never over-excited, never catching you off-guard.
That is not to say that the previous M2 Comp felt underpowered but you don’t realise how much more intoxicating an increase of 36kW is. The throttle response is immediate and brings that engine to life on tap.
All things considered, the only significant change is a healthily uprated powertrain. BMW has taken an existing recipe and beefed it up in all the right areas.
Contrary to some reports, the BMW M2 doesn’t have a new suspension setup. The suspension components, including the 5-link rear axle, are lifted wholesale from the previous M2. The Active M diff is still there, considering the steering angle, torque through the rear wheels and lateral grip to give you the most engaging feel and feedback.
The only change to the suspension and chassis is the addition of aluminium pieces in some key areas. The front axle and entire engine compartment have been stiffened, as has the rear from the C-pillar down to the axle, in a bid to improve rigidity and torsional stiffness.
I’ve been privileged enough to see the aluminium pieces that have been added and I can attest to the functional difference these bracing elements have on the overall experience.
The M2 feels more grown-up now. The structural improvements have made the car far more mature, particularly in how lively the rear is. Oversteer is more predictable and the tail-happy nature of the G87 M2 Coupe has been tempered for a more enjoyable experience.
There’s more poise and control under hard braking but the same can be said as you turn into a hairpin, bury the throttle and ride out the tail-waggle that follows… if you want to.
The M2 also gains the M Drift Analyser Software and the M Traction Control function for controlled and measured drifts.
Stopping power comes courtesy of 380mm, 6-piston brakes up front, with floating 370mm discs at the rear. The wheels in standard guise come with 275/35 ZR 19 and 285/30 ZR 20 tyres, front and rear.
The big news is the dual pedal feel on the braking system, which is configurable from the M Mode menu, giving you the option of varying bite points and pedal feedback, depending on your driving style.
It’s the M-car way, isn’t it? The ability to dive into the M Mode menu and configure the chassis, engine, steering, braking and exhaust note as you like is what sets real M-cars apart from their wannabe counterparts. The new M2 is no different and offers these functions within the latest BMW OS 8 operating system with the Curved Display.
The M2 is a fantastic sports car because it’s presented as a simple offering. The engineering isn’t simple at all, nor is the tech on offer, but as a driver who wants an engaging and versatile sports car, the M2 is a step up on its predecessor for all the right reasons.
It’s more mature but hasn’t lost its zesty playfulness, it’s more powerful without the loss of real-world usability, it’s more tech-laden with the most up-to-date onboard infotainment and, say what you want, its design is still a talking point.
I was unimpressed by the M2’s design when I first saw it, but having seen it up close and spent about 320km behind the wheel, I am willing to put those petty opinions aside for this car.
The BMW M2 has just been introduced as the official safety car for the MotoGP, the 25th season for BMW M in this role. It’s also one of the cars that will close out the epic 50th-year celebration for BMW M. What a year it’s been for the brand and what a car they’ve made in the M2.
Price: R1?503?975 and the vehicle will officially go on sale in July 2023.
Objects of Desire: Fresh fits:
The world of fashion right now is, to say the least, chaotic. There are people chasing the quiet luxury trend, others are in some sort of “era” and then there are those who seem to have it all figured out.
To help digest the volumes on new launches, zeitgeist designers and trends, we’ve curated a four-piece collection of items that will help things feel refreshed.
World is watching
The Perpetual Moon watch from Arnold & Son celebrates the Year of the Rabbit. The face is adorned with a full moon crafted in mother-of-pearl and other handpainted pieces. The watch’s moon phase is so precise, the company boasts, that it will remain accurate for 122 years before it deviates from the real lunar cycle. Available through Arnold & Son.
Come to le papa
Joining the ranks of the 2023 “It” bags, the Le Papa by Alaia is both functional and fashionable. The three gussets have an accordion-like effect but come together to form an “A” shape, an ode to Azzedine Alaia himself. Architectural in shape, but smooth in texture, Le Papa is for safe keeping. Available through 2A Store, Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
Sharp focus
These days, the suave sunglasses brand Jacques Marie Mage appears to be on everyone’s faces but which silhouette reigns supreme? This winter, the Jacques Marie Mage + Yellowstone Dealan Square-Frame, in acetate with silver hardware, nods to the beautiful Yellowstone National Park, in the US, ringing in a new air of adventure. Available through Jacques Marie Mage.
Change of suit
The quirky designers at Bode bring 1940s clutch purse designs, favoured by many menswear enthusiasts, to men’s tailored suiting. This jewelled Ivy jacket and matching trousers bring soft suiting to the fore. Swirling patterns, gold bullion threads and embellishments also give a wild, wild West flair to the look. Available through Bode.
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