The Joys of Load Shedding: Our Brandvlei Electricity Saga

If you've been in South Africa for a minute, you know the drill with load shedding. It's that uninvited guest that always seems to crash the party, leaving us all in the dark – literally! And while I try to steer clear of the political talk and the endless debates about Eskom (South Africa's main electricity supplier) and its challenges, sometimes, you just can't escape the direct impact on your daily life.

That's exactly what happened recently when the electricity dispenser at our main house decided to call it quits. Personally, I'm convinced it's the constant on-again, off-again, harsh impact of load shedding that finally pushed it over the edge. These things just aren't built for that kind of stress!

I was in Cape Town when the call came in from my neighbour. They hadn't been receiving any alarm signals from our house, which was the first red flag. A quick check confirmed their suspicions: our prepaid electricity dispenser was completely out of commission.

So, my son and I quickly packed some essentials, loaded up the car with snacks (because what's a road trip without snacks?), and began the six-hour drive to Brandvlei. The whole journey, I kept thinking about how much of a costly exercise this was turning into, all because of a faulty meter.

Upon arrival, it was clear the dispenser had indeed failed. We headed straight to the local municipal office, reported the issue, and thankfully, they were able to schedule someone to come out and install a new meter. What a relief! Everything's now working as it should, thank goodness. We decided to stay an extra day to ensure all was well before making the drive back to Cape Town.

It just goes to show, even when you're away, the impact of load shedding can still find a way to reach you! Have you had any memorable load shedding adventures? Share them in the comments below!