Seriously, who starts writing a blog post 12 minutes before loadshedding is about to start, taking with it computer equipment, connectivity and safety?
Hello. It’s me.
I wouldn’t want to work for Eskom’s social media department. It’s a thankless task, constantly relaying bad news to a bloodthirsty audience of rabid, baying hounds, simply waiting to pounce on your every word.
Or to the keyboard warriors of middle-class South Africa, at least.
Same same.
But you can help yourself out if you’re in that situation. Like by not linking to an article in the Randburg Sun entitled:
Tips to help prevent burglaries during load-shedding
Firstly, this makes people feel (even more) unsafe within their own homes, and secondly, given that Eskom is responsible for the loadshedding, does that not imply some sort of responsibility for the increased crime during loadshedding?
I”m no legal expert, but I think it probably does.
The prosecution rests, your honour. Whenever it gets the chance.
But did they even read the article in question? In fact, did the person who wrote the article in question even read the article in question?
I’m just asking, given that some of the tips include:
Make provision for good outside lighting but switch the lights off during the day
Good outside lighting being imperative when there’s no electricity, of course.
And:
If your house alarm goes off or you hear strange noises or your dogs bark, switch on the outside lights, but do not go outside.
Of course, there being loadshedding, those good outside lights will be of limited no use, but you can flick the switch and hear the click of nothing happening if it makes you feel any better.
Also, because we have a beagle, our dog barking is quite a strange noise, anyway.
Two birds right there.
Ah yes. The lights have just gone out and they won’t be back on for another 2½ hours. It’s the third of these blackouts today and there will be at least another three tomorrow. I’m going to have to post this via my cellphone using the tower in the adjoining neighbourhood – our local one is down, as it always during these times. So now, I need to go and stand in my front garden to get signal.
It’s looking rather dark out there. I’d better go and switch on the outside lights.
Oh.