Load shedding in South Africa : another nail in income inequality?

Abstract

SIGNIFICANCE : South African households have been affected by load shedding for over a decade. Low-income households are the most heavily impacted by unreliable electricity supply, rising electricity prices and lack of financial means to absorb such shocks, subject to their living conditions. Marginalised communities struggle to access the advantages of urban areas, deepening the country’s income inequalities. Policymaking needs to address the uneven distribution of the impact with policies and programmes that will improve access to finance and technologies for sustainable future solutions. However, there is a catch in the implementation of such policies, as, potentially, measures such as subsidies may exacerbate inequalities and create more problems in the system. Innovative financial programmes are essential to support low-income households and ensure fairness in dealing with load shedding effects while promoting socio-economic development and improving living standards.