Loadshedding: Students Struggle to Cope
Tertiary students, among other groups of people in South Africa who have been affected by Loadshedding over the past few weeks. Students did not hesitate to voice out their concerns regarding the persistence of power cutting in the country, saying it affects their pattern of studying and also they can’t attend online classes and also complete assignments. The country as whole not only tertiary students have been affected by Loadshedding, it’s been the same since the first week of October last month. Although so far there hasn’t been any power cuts, it has been reported by Eskom that Loadshedding might be in place again this week.
In all sectors of education from primary level to tertiary level this month is a critical month of them all, exam month. Every student is focused and putting effort in their books in order to achieve a good outcome after the exams are done. With Loadshedding happening, it has brought about a negative feel amongst students. One student who goes by the name of Nkosiyazi Nkala shared his frustration about Loadshedding.
“I am very frustrated about what is going on with this electricity, a minute it’s here and then it’s gone it is unpredictable. I have missed a handful of classes online because electricity was out in the student accommodation that I currently live in and my study patterns have been affected as well" he said.
Eskom announced that Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 2 p.m. on Wednesday until 5 a.m. on Saturday, following a brief respite from power outages. The power utility said on Wednesday that this is to conserve the remaining emergency reserves at open cycle gas turbines and pump storage power plants in order to avoid higher phases of load shedding.
“Due to the loss of Medupi, Kendal and Duvha units we now have insufficient generation capacity at our disposal, and as such, we have no alternative but to implement Stage 2 load shedding from 2pm this afternoon until 5am on Saturday,” said Eskom CEO André de Ruyter in a statement released by Eskom.
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