The Lucrative Load-shedding After-Market in South Africa

Eskom load-shedding flashlight shweshwe fabric

We went to Makro today and I couldn't help but notice the incredibly lucrative product market that has sprung up as a result of Eskom load-shedding.

In addition to the usual diesel generators and storage batteries, flashlights and 9 volt batteries one finds at Makro, there is a whole host of portable solar powered products that are now standard fare at South African hardware stores.

Portable solar generators, portable solar chargers, solar lamps, etc. ... I mean I guess it's good because it is bringing the concept of "getting off the grid" straight to the consumer, but it would be much better if it was partnered with a wholesale government economic strategy and policy, heh.

a loadshed survival shelf @ Makro

I found out from my bead guy Arnold the other day that the real reason we are having all this load-shedding is because South Africa has not been paying Mozambique back for the power we have used that was generated by their World Bank-funded hydro-electric plant, and have therefore been cut off from any future power until we pay up. It is just as plausible to me as the 20 year lack of maintenance due to apartheid that Eskom has been using as their poor-ass excuse.

Hopefully South Africa has been backing some of these solar-powered after-market products in an attempt to make some fast cash in order to pay back its World Bank debt. But that would be clever and therefore highly unlikely.