麻豆约拍

Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of Johannesburg to protest against worsening power cuts across South Africa. Most were dressed in blue, the colour of the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, which organised the rally.

The regular blackouts have been blamed on the government鈥檚 poor management of the state-owned energy firm, Eskom, and an ageing fleet of coal-fired stations.

Following the protests, we brought together three South Africans to hear about their experiences: Barbara in Ballito in Kwa Zulu Natal, Navina in Lenasia, Johannesburg, and Matshikidi in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

"For four to eight hours a day absolutely nothing happens. It's pitch dark, the air conditioning isn't working... I sit in the dark," says Barbara.

Navina in Lenasia says she has around 47 minutes during which she "makes sure the food is cooked, that the kids are doing their homework or online assignments and feed the dog" before the lights go out.

In Kempton Park, Johannesburg, Matshikidi says "load-shedding is becoming an opportunity for criminals to break into homes and steal cables and further frustrate our livelihoods."

Shopping is also problematic as local stores are not able to process payments without power and ATMs can't work.

(Photo: Members of the opposition DA (Democratic Alliance) during the #powertothepeople march against continued nationwide power outages across South Africa. Credit: Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE/Rex/Shutterstock)

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