In the Dark: Load Shedding, Power and Water Outages in South Africa

I'll be the first to admit that we first-world folk are a little spoilt. It's so easy to underestimate how much we rely on water, power and internet. 

I'd always considered myself a pretty low maintenence type of person in Australia. As it turns out, I cope very poorly when I’m left without basic utilities- even for a few hours. 
There's the obvious things, like being in the dark and only using bottled water. Then after a while I forget and try to cook something on a stove that won't turn on. When my laptop and phone die I don't know how to get up and go to class on time. 
And all of a sudden I can’t shake the craving for toast. 

Let me introduce you to load shedding : this is where the supply of electricity is not always enough to meet the demand. When it becomes too much, it’s see ya later power, hello candles and take-away food. 
Welcome to Johannesburg. 
For me it’s the uncertainty that can be frustrating. There’s a website that tells you when to expect load shedding, but it’s rarely even a little bit accurate. All of a sudden you’re cooking dinner or studying for a test and things stop working. And soon this could be the reality of water as well due to population growth, depleting natural resources and a lack of infrastructure.

For all my complaining, load shedding has actually been extraordinarily low for the most part of my trip. Power, internet and water still randomly go out far more often than they would in Aus. However this post is largely inspired from two water outages and a five-day power failure on campus. 

Candles in wine bottles always make good decoration in power outages

Both water outages have been because of some kind of fault. We don’t really know why, and we definitely don’t know when it will be back. The first time water was gone for a few days. After one day you’re starting to smell, you’re thirsty as hell- and don’t even get me started on the state of the toilets. And guess what happens when all your pans, bowls and plates get dirty? 
Eat from a cup? Take-away pizza anyone? 

I think the electricity outage was the worst. Firstly, let me be clear that I’m incredibly happy living in South Africa and I adore so much about this country. However, after five straight days without power, I had reached my first-world limits. 

I firmly like to think all the hype about Johannesburg’s high crime rate is way overstated and it’s perfectly safe to live here. In saying that, we did lose power after some major part of the system (don’t ask me to get technical) was stolen one night. That caused an initial outage. Then campus power also failed. And when electricians tried to fix it there was an explosion and two were severely burnt. Oh and then the back-up generators overpowered and stopped working. It was just one thing after another really. 
On the plus side, most uni classes were cancelled and assignments extended. I also used it as an excuse to do my first video news assessment (see me play journo below).

I almost laughed when some students in my class personally apologised on behalf of South Africa for having power problems. They seemed embarrassed, like they wanted to disprove all the overstated African stereotypes, or I was some kind of precious first-world princess stuck in the slums. And don’t get me wrong here, it was frustrating as all hell. My coping abilities were truly tested (and I’m not too sure I passed the test) but it honestly doesn’t make me think any less of this dynamic country. It’s just something to adapt to.

Back home you completely forget how much you rely on utilities and how fantastic it is that we have maintained systems in place. Even though it sucks sometimes, when the lights go out it brings some kind of unity. Everyone heads to the lounge room, pulls out the candles and for a few hours we can slow down and forget the crazy routines of our lives.

This of course wears off after a few hours when you start to feel hungry or would like a warm shower, but I’ve definitely learnt to be more grateful for everything I have. A feeling that, in my opinion, is completely neglected back in the comforts of my home in Australia.

There's something so much nicer about candle light than regular lighting

This is my second post during my 5-month stay in Southern Africa. Read my first post on the beautiful country Lesotho here.  
Follow me as I try to convince you to pack your bags and get on a plane to Africa, before I make my way to South East Asia (for a third time) in 2016.

When I'm not writting, photographing, exploring and studying overseas, I keep myself busy posting about Melbourne life @ ditchedinmelbourne