The Stream

Power cuts surge through South Africa

Netizens trade blame as scheduled rolling blackouts resume in the country for the first time in six years.

Eskom’s electricity pylons snake across a hill in a Johannesburg suburb, Thursday, Nov. 24. 2011. (AP/DENIS FARRELL)

Sparks are flying online over scheduled electricity cuts hitting major areas across South Africa. State power utility company Eskom, which supplies more than 80 per cent of the country’s electricity, declared an energy emergency on Thursday. 

This is the first time since 2008 that Eskom has resumed rolling cuts to save power. According to reports, rain disrupted the company’s supply of coal. An Eskom spokesperson said the scheduled cuts could continue into Friday and into next week, depending on the weather. 

Residents in the country used #loadshedding to discuss the power cuts. South Africans shared images on social media after the cuts began.