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| Africa Subsaharan |
| South Africa's power grid is failing |
| 2023-03-22 |
| [Armstrong Econ] South Africa is desperate for allies, economic allies. The country is failing and the people are suffering. There is international outrage right now misdirected at South Africa for its desire to host the Bric summit with Russia, China, Brazil, and India. The International Criminal Court (ICC) wants to arrest Putin for his war crimes, and President Cyril Ramaphosa is defending his position to invite Putin before the invitations for the event have even gone out. I warned that countries who were previously banned from discussions at the big table would turn to China and Russia for support since the West has abandoned them. "What about Ukraine!" the media cries. Well, what about South Africa? No one comments that the conditions in South Africa are WORSE than in Ukraine during an active war. South Africa was in a bad spot economically long before COVID. GDP grew by a mere 1% between 2012 and 2021, according to the World Bank. The nation’s entire infrastructure is crumbling, and the power grid is on the verge of complete failure. Blackouts are common, and many blame state-owned power plant Eskom which routinely cuts off the power grid to produce "rolling blackouts" to conserve power. These "rolling blackouts" can last over 12 hours. This affects fuel availability, phone and internet coverage, traffic lights, power to hospitals, etc. It also limits the availability of food and water. Crime is more prevalent during blackouts as there are no cameras or security systems. Rape and crimes against women are disgustingly common. Civil unrest is so prevalent that the president issued a "state of disaster" warning on February 9, long after the situation became irreparable. |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #10 ^4, above. https://bereamail.co.za/242777/crime-stats-durban... WebPolice Minister, Bheki Cele, Durban Central has once again been labelled as the most dangerous place to live in the country |
| Posted by: Slavising Unineting5672 2023-03-22 20:18 |
| #9 /\ Thanks for posting 'Brave New World' Steve. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2023-03-22 18:30 |
| #8 In one of those curious bits of synchronicity our universe is famous for, this popped up on my radar the other day. I have not yet read the book. Book Review: South Africa's Brave New World, by R.W. Johnson |
| Posted by: SteveS 2023-03-22 18:05 |
| #7 ^ This is what's in store for CA, with all the reparations talk. We're already seeing the effects. When billions of $ are on the line, do not expect "folks" to be civil and wait in line. And this, of course, is what is expected. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2023-03-22 16:33 |
| #6 Back in 1996, when Mr. Wife was being transferred Stateside, a friend’s husband was looking at a possible promotion to South Africa country manager for his country. After my friend looked into it, she persuaded him to turn it down; she’d been warned by some of the other wives that she should plan to be raped on average of once a year while they were there, in addition to the probability of break-ins and robberies. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2023-03-22 16:26 |
| #5 Yet another sterling example of the rich, cultural benefits the common people derived from the overthrow of that pesky British Colonial rule. |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2023-03-22 12:46 |
| #4 /\ And you ought to try Durban! Wat? Jy kan nie ernstig wees nie? (u can't be serious) |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2023-03-22 09:48 |
| #3 Cape Town: Unfortunately, not all of Cape Town is safe. ...the poorer the neighbourhood, the more dangerous it is: CAPE FLATS: Cape Flats is known for high crime rates and should definitely be avoided. ...and is ruled by gangs. Since 2019, the government has stepped in and the crime statistics have improved, however, it’s still considered a no-go area. LANGA and Nyanga: These two areas are the oldest townships in Cape Town, but also one of the poorest. Therefore, crime rates are relatively high and it’s not a safe area for tourists. KRAAIFONTEIN: has an extraordinarily high crime rate, and is best missed if possible. Over 10000 crimes were committed here in 2020. Other Township Areas: These areas are on the outside of Cape Town’s popular neighbourhoods. While they offer an incredible culture, they’re not the safest place for tourists. ... And you ought to try Durban! |
| Posted by: Slavising Unineting5672 2023-03-22 09:17 |
| #2 South Africa was in a bad spot economically Ha, yes, since about 1995. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2023-03-22 01:23 |
| #1 Go solar! |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2023-03-22 01:20 |