Corruption sometimes manifests itself as a light going out. In 2021, electricity was cut off for 1,136 hours (47 days) in South Africa.
That year, compared to 2020, load shedding was up 37%, a figure that has been steadily increasing since 2018. The fault lies with Eskom, the state-owned electricity company. After years of embezzlement and mismanagement, the company is now forced to operate regular load shedding due to breakdowns and maintenance operations. These blackouts weaken the economy and enrage South Africans, whose security (electric fences, cameras, alarms, etc.) also depends on power.
