🕯️ Loadshedding Survival Tips
🔋A decent UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is worth every rand. It'll keep your router, TV, and lights going for 2–4 hours during a slot. Check Makro, Checkers, or Hi-Fi Corp for good deals.
💧Fill a large pot or Tupperware containers with water before a slot. Municipal pumping stations are affected by Stage 4+, so water pressure drops after extended outages.
🍳A single-burner gas cooker is one of the cheapest and most useful loadshedding investments. A small 3kg cylinder lasts weeks of cooking. Khumbi and Cadac are solid SA options.
🧊Keep a cooler bag and ice bricks for Stage 4+. Fridges stay cold for about 4 hours if you don't open them. Freezers for 24–48 hours. Minimise opening during slots.
📅Download the EskomSePush app (free) or check loadshedding.eskom.co.za to get your schedule. Set phone alarms 30 minutes before each slot so you're never caught mid-hair-wash.
🕯️Keep candles away from curtains and never leave them unattended. A gas lamp or rechargeable LED lantern is much safer than candles for a household with kids.