Just when we thought loadshedding was a thing of the past, Eskom issued a warning – power cuts might be back. But in true South African style, before panic could set in, EskomSePush brought the humour, proving once again that if there’s one thing we do better than survive, it’s laugh.
South Africa (31 January 2025) – After more than 10 months of uninterrupted power, South Africans are seeing a familiar headline today – loadshedding could be making an unwelcome return.
Eskom issued a press statement on Friday, warning that due to multiple breakdowns in the past week, emergency reserves were running low and loadshedding of up to Stage 4 might be implemented over the weekend.
But before anyone could let the gloom settle in, our favourite loadshedding tracker, EskomSePush, did what they do best—turning crisis into comedy. They posted a meme featuring a wrestling star dramatically rising from the ground, perfectly summing up the unexpected return of power cuts (and the return of the need for the app).
And, in true South African style, we laughed. The comments and responses to the post are hilarious.
— EskomSePush (ESP) (@EskomSePush) January 31, 2025
EskomSePush (ESP) started as a simple app to help people track loadshedding schedules. It has since evolved into something far greater – one of the most downloaded South African apps, a social media sensation and a daily reminder that, no matter what, we find ways to make the best of any situation.
The reality is that South Africans have always used humour as a survival tool. Whether it’s memes, jokes, or simply taking the opportunity to braai when the lights go out, we find a way to keep going. Even Eskom acknowledges that this is just a temporary bump in the road.
“This is a potentially temporary setback,” said Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane. “Loadshedding is largely behind us due to the structural improvements in our generation fleet.”
So, while we might have to dust off our candles and check our UPS batteries, there’s still a massive positive: we’ve had over 10 months of stable electricity! That’s a huge win compared to the past few years. The fact that we’re even talking about “possible loadshedding” instead of daily blackouts is proof that progress is happening.
And if we do get a few hours in the dark? Well, at least we’ll have EskomSePush to keep us entertained.
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