I have spent the last week in the Cape Region of South Africa and can report first hand that this is the worst power outages I have seen in several visits here over the last three years.

I personally have not been too impacted but have certainly seen many cities without power - or stoplights - non-functioning ATMs, and some very warm nights with only a candle and no fan or A/C.

Thursday was a milestone day in South Africa. ESKOM recorded a 4,000 Megawatt shortfall. Previously the highest was 2,500. This resulted in all of the mines in South Africa ceasing operation. This includes the Platinum mines which are the country's number one earner and the gold mines which are number four. The papers are declaring the shutdown of the mines as a "national emergency". Really?

The weather throughout the country is very warm. It is expected to be 39C in Cape Town today.

There does not appear to be any resolution for years to come until the country builds additional generation capability.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa...wer/index.html

The whole country of Zambia lost power last week-end for about 7 hours.

What a tourist should do or bring:
1. Lamp & small gas cooker (there is not enough electricity for locals, let alone tourists)
2. Port o potty (you can't use public toilets because if you do not get mugged you will probably catch some vile disease due to the cleanliness)
3. Take classes for self defence and always carry pepperspray (readily available in S.A.)
4. Ship over your 4X4 (potholes can be really bad and taxis....well they are worse)
5. Take out medical insurance (stadium may collapse or fights break out and if so good luck in the government hospitals)
6. Bring a sleeping bag (for the government hospitals)

Jackssid2

LOL

come to Africa as this is what is all about. I left Johannesburg yesterday for my place on the Sabi River in Kruger where I am writing from and I have a fire going and sounds of Africa and more power than I need to run my 2 laptops. We were hit big time last Thursday.