Eskom has announced that stage 4 blackouts will remain from 4 pm until midnight while stage 3 power cuts will continue to be implemented between midnight and 4 pm until Saturday. This impacts South Africans in all facets of life including students.
As the 2022 academic year approaches its conclusion, students at universities are concerned that the continuous power cuts could harm their examination results. This is because their preparation could be severely hindered by rolling blackouts.
One student at Durban University of Technology (DUT) said they are unable to study as loadshedding impacts their connectivity to the internet. While some students purchase data, this does not always work as power outages also impact connectivity.
Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande recently acknowledged the challenges faced by students due to loadshedding. This is because the power cuts disrupt exams, teaching and learning and the functionality of institutions.
We really do need to address the issue of loadshedding. We can’t deny the fact that it’s having a hugely negative impact. As a government, we are trying our best to make sure that loadshedding becomes something of the past.
The minister said the ongoing power cuts are also negatively impacting the finances of universities around the country. This is because loadshedding is raising the cost of running institutions and putting pressure on the higher education departmental budget.
He concluded that universities have a crucial role to play to combat loadshedding. This is as they are producing qualified professionals to plug the skills gap at the power utility.
