The South African electricity grid is incredibly unstable and that poses a very, very big danger in terms of mass civil unrest. “Everyone is quite nervous about the instability that could bring. In South Africa, currently statistics show that only 14.5 per cent of murder cases are actually solved.”īut Mr Cameron agreed that prospect of a power grid failure was a huge concern. Just between South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, there are 3.8 million illegal firearms being circulated. “We’ve got a huge problem with organised crime. “What has become far worse is organised crime in general has just shot through the roof,” he said. South African Police Service officers in Cape Town. Mr Cameron disagreed that there were “regular guerrilla tactics” but said there was a “very big opportunistic criminality that’s grown as socio-economic circumstances deteriorate”. “In some cases it’s really starting to look like Venezuela is starting to play out in front of us,” he told. Ian Cameron from public safety lobby group Action Society said while he thought some of those claims were “a bit melodramatic”, there was “no doubt things are getting very bad in South Africa very quickly”. Farmers being murdered like flies in the most brutal ways imaginable.” Hundreds of rapes a day, thousands of kidnappings every month, 90 hijackings a day. “Our murder rate is higher than the death rate in Ukraine’s current conflict,” he wrote. He added the cost of living was “insane” with medical aid “a luxury that most cannot afford” while food prices were “going through the roof”. Police, fire and hospital resources for the state don’t exist and are also slowly disintegrating.” “Looting is no longer just a daily thing, but is also now becoming more structured with guerrilla planning involved. “We’re seeing an increase in co-ordinated attacks on water, power and comms infrastructure,” he wrote. In a viral Twitter thread this week, a neighbourhood watch volunteer with civil rights group AfriForum argued South Africa “has collapsed”. The official warned of mass looting and civil unrest if the grid collapsed, quoting an unnamed individual as saying, “What’s left after a blackout would be what was left after a civil war.”Ī ‘bottle globe’ in the roof of a shack in Olievenhoutbosch. “There are a few feeder lines from other countries, but not enough to help with a black start situation.” “Eskom estimates, in the best case scenario, it would take six to 14 days to restart the power grid,” the official said. They said one of the biggest dangers was the amount of time required to bring the system back online from a total collapse. The US Overseas Security Advisory Council convened a meeting with representatives from several large US-based corporations with operations in South Africa, as well as a number of local companies, to discuss business security concerns amid the energy crisis.Īt the meeting, a recording of which was viewed by MyBroadband, a US government official said while a total power grid failure was unlikely, it was “something we need to start thinking about”. It comes after the US government last month warned its stakeholders in South Africa to prepare for a total collapse of the power grid, tech publication MyBroadband reported. Ongoing conditions have led to increased protests and demonstrations, and in some cases, civil unrest, throughout the country.” “Residences can be targeted when lights are out and security systems are not functioning. “For example, traffic jams due to power outages provide opportunities for smash-and-grab crime,” it said. “Blackouts can also affect water availability, internet connectivity, mobile phone network coverage, fuel availability, residential security features and food supply.”ĭFAT warned power outages can increase crime. “Rolling blackouts (load shedding) are occurring throughout South Africa which are affecting private residences, businesses, municipal lighting, traffic lights and hotels,” Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said earlier this month. Credit: /XhMYvWnMlb- Joel Pollak February 15, 2023 The electricity from Eskom, the state-owned power company, cuts out, and then the private generators kick in. What âload sheddingâ in South Africa ð¿ð¦ looks and sounds like: Urban Square, Century City mall, Cape Town, South Africa, 4:07 a.m., February 15, 2023.
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