The power goes out and most complain about eating cold food again or missing their favourite TV shows, but they can’t breathe.
Houses consumed in darkness and the only thing that can be heard are the sighs of frustration and the now constant hum of generators. Twitter is flooded with angry messages in which people complain and lament collectively. Family members shout across pitch-dark passages looking for the lone emergency lamp that tends to play hide and seek at the most inconvenient of times, the food has gone cold and homework is yet to be completed. All the while, Renee Simoes, like so many others, goes through a rigorous procedure to stay alive.
Renee Simoes says that having no electricity literally takes her ability to breathe away. Photo: Elishevah Bome
Every South African knows the feeling of receiving that EskomSePush notification telling them that their block is about to be loadshed. Hatred, disapproval, sadness and stress are just some of the feelings that come to mind. As we scramble, there is a community of people who have to walk the line of life and death during their hours of electrical blackouts.
Fourteen years ago on January 25, 2008, the government announced a national power emergency due to increasing demand for power and limited new generation capacity, today more than a decade later, things have gone from bad to worse.
Eskom literally holds my life in their hands.
Renee Simoes
The major brunt of the constant loadshedding is taken by those with ill health that heavily rely on power for their oxygen machines, dialysis machines and hospital treatments. Simoes has been living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the form of Emphysema since 1993. The 72-year-old grandmother of seven has been on full time oxygen for the last six years. ‘’I can’t live without the help of the oxygen machine, without it I don’t have lungs,” she said.
During an interview with Wits Vuvuzela, Simoes was in the midst of her two hours off the grid. The procedure to get the oxygen connected to her inverter, a nifty device that is battery run and can keep appliances on for a few hours, was a strenuous and expensive one (about R11 000). She said that her electrically powered oxygen machine has too high of a wattage for the inverter, so she only gets 30 minutes out of the machine. She considers herself ‘’fortunate’’ to have a backup oxygen cylinder, which set her back R4 000. Each time she refills this cylinder it costs R450 and during peak loadshedding times she has till refill the cylinder at least once a week.
An electrical oxygen machine on (L) and an oxygen cylinder (R). Photos: Elishevah Bome
Simoes explained that when people go without adequate oxygen for an extend period there is a risk of secondary infections such as Bronchitis or Pneumonia as their lungs are working overtime. ‘’I am lucky I have the support of my children and grandchildren during this time, others are not so lucky. Eskom literally holds my life in their hands.”
Stella de Kock is in end stage Renal Failure and relies on a hemodialysis machine, which removes the unwanted waste products from her blood. Unlike an oxygen machine which has non-electrical alternatives, the only way to receive lifesaving dialysis is through the machine. De Kock needs about three sessions of dialysis a week. “I dialyse at a dialysis centre, and when loadshedding starts, the machines shut down and then we have to wait for the generator to kick in. Luckily for us, it only takes a minute or two,” said de Kock. In December 2020, she got covid and had to dialyse at home for a period of a week. “It was touch and go as we only have a small generator at home and the dialysis machine needs a lot of power.’’
De Kock wishes that the public and Eskom knew that: ‘’Having a chronic condition already puts a strain on your mental wellbeing without the extra stress of having to think of if you’ll be able to get your treatment if there is no power.”
Dominique Truyens, who passed away before she could receive her lung transplant suffered from a lung disease called Cystic Fibrosis. Her twin sister Caleigh Truyens suffers from the same disease. She told Wits Vuvuzela that when there was loadshedding, Dominique was not able to use her oxygen machine because at the time there was no portable oxygen and no generator. She was in hospital most of the time and a big factor was due to the hospitals not being affected by loadshedding.
A portable oxygen machine. This is battery run but doesn’t last long. Photo: Elishevah BomeAn inverter. This is a more renewable way to have electricity when you are loadshed, however, it is not as powerful and is very expensive. Photo: Elishevah Bome
Truyens explains that the kindness of friends and neighbours is often needed during blackouts, she often rushes to homes with no interruptions or access to generators to plug in her machine. Once, a fraught drive from Rustenburg to Johannesburg was needed because “they had no other option”.
Private hospitals throughout the country have equipped themselves with working generators and equipment, according to interviewees who frequent them. However, for those that rely on government hospitals it is more complex. “Loadshedding is affecting all our public health facilities in the country,” said President of the Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union, Lerato Madumo-Gova, in an article published by health-e newsin July 2022.
Wits University’s academic hospitals are included and vulnerable during blackouts. According to TimesLIVE Wits head of internal medicine at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, Prof Adam Mahomed said, “Load shedding is putting a heavy strain on hospital equipment and patient services.”
But help is seemingly on the way. On September 30, 2022, health minister Dr Joe Phaahla announced that 37 of the countries public hospitals would be exempt from loadshedding. “Generators have been proven not to adequately meet the increasing demands during load shedding in health facilities,” he said in a statement. Phaahla said hospitals will either be directly exempt or in cases of municipality connection, they will install a dedicated feeder line that kicks in to keep power in the facility during municipal loadshedding windows.
The criteria for hospital exclusion include patients’ volume, the nature of specialised services they provide and technological and medical equipment they have, of which most are academic, regional and district hospitals. Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital and Steve Biko Academic Hospital are some of those included in the exemption list. However, in a country with over 300 public hospitals those who are exempt are just a drop in a very murky ocean.
Things recently have gone from bad to worse. According to Eskom Research, Testing and Development’s Dr Ulrich Minnaar, the month of September 2022, saw the most hours of loadshedding ever, with a total of 1 503 GWh estimated to have been shed and with 572 hours of the month’s 720 hours directly affected.
“Loadshedding for those who rely on electricity such as I do, and many people like me, is extremely stressful, it is not just switching a kettle on to make some tea or cooking something to eat and it’s not just having lights it’s having actual breath, actual life,” concluded Simoes. One can see the strain etched on her face and hear her heavy breathing between each sentence. The electricity returned during our sit down. She checked her phone anxiously. It pinged with a reminder from EskomSePush that the next round of loadshedding would take place later that evening. “All I can do is breathe,” she said, chuckling sadly.
FEATURED IMAGE: While loadshedding is a pain for many for those who rely on electrical machinery to live, it is a daily dose of fear. Photo: Elishevah Bome
Wit’s University’s Homecoming Weekend saw non-stop celebrations from Friday, September 2 until Sunday, September 4, 2022. The Wits Vuvuzela team was out and about throughout and these are some of the moments they captured.
The Witsie Kudu couple wave to the crowds before the beginning of the parade.
Wits Vice chancellor Zeblon Vilakazi welcomes Witsies and friends to the centenary celebrations. Photo: Keamogetswe MatlalaThe kick-off of the homecoming parade, the crowd begins with a dash from the line as confetti litters the celebratory air. Photo: Colin HugoThe Witsie Kudu couple wave to the crowds before the beginning of the parade. Photo: Colin HugoWitsies took to the streets of Braamfontein to celebrate Wits University’s 100th birthday. Photo: Elishevah BomeBesides the fancy- dress and costumes all those who took part of the Rag parade’s procession were wearing the widest and brightest smiles. Photo: Elishevah BomeA wits parade volunteer proudly wearing her Wits 100 year shirt on the parade. Photo: Colin Hugohe view of the 100 year parade from the 18th floor of the Wits Art Museum as the parade makes it’s way down Jorissen street. Photo: Colin HugoRAG Parade attendees paint their faces blue and gold. Photo: Tannur AndersParktown Boys High School band kicked off the celebrations with a performance. Photo: Tannur AndersWits cheerleaders partake in the first of the homecoming festivities. Photo: Tannur AndersWits Vuvuzela student journalist, Colin Hugo, came sixth in the #Wits100 Parkrun. Photo: Tannur AndersThe famous Great Hall is lit up by the centenary light show. Artists and dancers performed live impromptu art at the feet of the great hall. Photo: Colin Hugo A picture of what Braamfontein used to look like displayed on the face lifted Great Hall. Photo: Colin Hugo South African Rapper, Big Zulu, performing at the Free People’s Concert at Digs Field, West Campus. Photo: Busisiwe MdluliSouth African singer-songwriter, Jesse Clegg, performing the songs of his late father, Johnny Clegg at the Free People’s Concert. Photo: Busisiwe MdluliSome future Witsies taking a look at Great Hall. Photo: Elishevah BomeWits dean of student affairs Jerome September dolled up for the parade. Photo: Keamogetswe MatlalaWits SRC president Cebolenkosi Khumalo cruising along with vice chancellor Zeblon Vilakazi as the parade moved into the streets of Braamfontein. Photo: Keamogetswe MatlalaSongs of struggle marked the separate march against exclusion by PYA and EFFSC student leaders which led the parade pack. Photo: Keamogetswe MatlalaStudent leaders overtake the centenary parade with placards expressing adverse messaging. Photo: Keamogetswe MatlalaVusi Mahlasela performing during his heart-warming set at The Free People’s Concert. Photo: Rufaro ChiswoThe crowd at the Free People’s Concert thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Photo: Rufaro Chiswo Soweto Gospel Choir’s colourful outfits make the stage more vibrant. Photo: Rufaro ChiswoThe woodwind players from Mango Groove blowing everyone away. Photo: Rufaro ChiswoMango Groove’s Claire Johnston giving a jaw-dropping vocals. Photo: Rufaro ChiswoDazzled by the performers, the crowd can’t take their eyes off the stage. Photo: Rufaro ChiswoWits staff could not wait to get their hands on the special edition Wits Vuvuzela newspaper in celebration of the Wits centenary on morning September 2. Photo: Tylin MoodleyA player from the Orlando Pirates Legends team lines up an explosive penalty shot during the Wits Legends and Orlando Pirates Legends soccer match on Saturday, September 3. Photo: Tylin MoodleyWits Legends (left) and Orlando Pirates Legends (right) come together in the heat to watch the penalties that Orlando Pirates Legends won 4-3 during Homecoming Weekend. Photo: Tylin MoodleyWits fans came dressed in their supporter’s gear for the game against Wits Legends and Orlando Pirates Legends at Wits Stadium on the Saturday of Homecoming Weekend. Photo: Tylin MoodleyWits Music Alumnus Mdu Mtshali and various artists perform Gideon Nxumalo’s ‘60th Celebration of Jazz Fantasia’. Photo: Mpho HlakudiTenor Saxophonist, Thami Mahlangu performs an exquisite piece at the Wits Fantasia’ at the new Chris Seabrooke Music Hall on East Campus. Photo: Mpho HlakudiPerformers take a bow as the crowd cheers and applauds their electric performance which earned a standing ovation. Photo: Mpho HlakudiThe #Wits100 Light Show light up by a map of Wits Braamfontein surrounding areas. Photo: Mpho Hlakudi
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A new wellness campaign is raising awareness around food insecurity among university students.
The office of student success (OSS), under the faculty of health science (FHS) has been running a novel campaign, #MakeADifference, since June, which aims to encourage donations towards basic needs care-kits that include food and toiletry supplies that are given to Wits health science students in need, while simultaneously raising awareness of food insecurity in South African universities.
The #MakeADifference campaign was developed by master’s students in community-based counselling psychology (MACC), in partnership with the OSS, a student wellness department.
Erick Kabongo, a MACC student, says the campaign is intended to, “capture different aspects of a students’ well-being” and this includes ensuring access to basic necessities such as food and toiletries.
“Class issues vary and some students get access to things while others don’t. If we aid students with basics such as food and toiletry, we are allowing them to compete fairly within their academic pursuits,” says Boikhutso Maubane, a counselling psychologist at OSS.
Before the campaign launched, the OSS had a food bank that would receive donations irregularly and only catered to a small pool of students who expressed need. “What was important this year was being able to really provide for students, especially during these trying economic times in South Africa,” Maubane told Wits Vuvuzela.
Despite being disrupted by the covid-19 pandemic, the campaign has increased the visibility of the food bank to potential donors as well as students who may need support.
Since June, OSS has distributed over 70 care-kits and has recently received 74 care-kits valued at R200 through a single donation, which will be distributed to students for the remainder of the year. Care-kits consist of non-perishable foods and basic toiletries.
Anelisa Mofokeng , administrator at the OSS, says an average of 10 students fetch a care-kit when available from the office. Students are identified through the health science course coordinators or they approach the OSS independently. There are roughly 70 students who form part of the campaign’s database and receive an email when care-kits are available. The office prioritises self-funding students when distributing care-kits but NSFAS students are not excluded from receiving aid.
Due to the pandemic, the campaign has been forced to function largely online, taking away the ability to engage with the Wits community. However, Maubane says the campaign has still managed to make a difference in this difficult time and it still has a lot to accomplish for the benefit of student communities.
FEATURE IMAGE: The #MakeADifference campaign supports health sciences students in need. Photo: Vetiwe Mamba
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