Eskom: how corruption and crime turned the lights off in South Africa

Synopsis

South Africa's electricity crisis has persisted for 15 years, with load shedding causing planned power cuts lasting from 2 to 12 hours. Eskom, the state-owned electricity provider, faces challenges from mismanagement, corruption, and aging coal-fired power stations. Organized crime cartels have exploited Eskom's vulnerabilities, severely impacting the economy, which relies on the utility for 80% of its power. The South African Reserve Bank reports that load shedding has reduced GDP growth by 2 percentage points, highlighting the extensive consequences for businesses and consumers.