Hi again loadshedding: Eskom’s really unfunny meme is back in South Africa

Four years ago, the World Cup was disrupted by loadshedding as Eskom struggled to maintain juice in its electricity grid. Last night, as the 2018 World Cup kicked off in Russia, loadshedding once again reared its ugly head.

The electricity utility was forced to implement loadshedding after its workers downed tools Thursday.

By Thursday evening, some areas — namely the large metropolitan areas of Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg — were forced to switch off the power to some suburbs.

🔊🔊🔊#Loadshedding Alert : Block 6 Chatsworth and Shallcross are currently without power until 20:00 tonight. Newlands, Verulam and Umhlodti will be switched off at 20:00 until 22 :00. We do apologise for the sudden notice. pic.twitter.com/KGWyurapba

— eThekwini Muni (@eThekwiniM) June 14, 2018

#Loadshedding has commenced at 17:00 in various areas of
Tshwane. Groups 8 and 12 will be affected from 17:00 to 20:00.

— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) June 14, 2018

Even the cities were left scrambling, with the City of Tshwane issuing this aggrieved tweet.

We apologise for not being able to alert customers timeously of the #loadshedding.

— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) June 14, 2018

The news of loadshedding didn’t sit well with South Africans online, whether they wanted to watch Russia and Saudi Arabia, or simply prepare dinner.

Many dusted off old jokes as they looked for candles.

So #Loadshedding gets implemented the same day / evening that the #WorldCup begins. Obviously our National Soccer team #BafanaBafana has something to do with this 🤷🏾‍♂️😂 They all have their TV’s and heaters on. 🤔 #Thoughts #InvestigativeTweet

— DavidKau (@davidkau1) June 14, 2018

Cities caught completely by surprise. They’re calling this #Loadshedding but this is just the hijacking of the national grid by disgruntled Eskom employees. Now let’s see who’s really in charge of SA.

— Tom Eaton (@TomEatonSA) June 14, 2018

#Loadshedding , vat increase, paying more for taxis , sugar tax, petrol price above R15.00 , data has not fallen , #ThumaMina is this what we’ll be voting for feels like the country just keeps getting worse pic.twitter.com/G4mXEW8oGy

— Gumi (@pure_savagery_) June 14, 2018

So #Eskom workers are on strike cos the company can’t afford to increase wages. And now we have #Loadshedding. But why can’t they just use the money they have set aside for corruption? pic.twitter.com/fvbJWq9Nfk

— Sandika Daya (@SandiSplash) June 14, 2018

Others have marked this as the official end of the honeymoon period for President Cyril Ramaphosa.

#ThumaMina #NewDawn

•RAMA-VAT-INCREASE✔
•RAMA-PETROL-INCREASE✔
•RAMA-CIT-HEISTS -INCREASE✔
•RAMA-PROTEST ACTION -INCREASE✔
•RAMA-BRUTAL KILLINGS OF FARMERS INCREASE✔
•RAMA-BRUTAL MURDERS OF WOMEN & CHILDREN INCREASE✔
•RAMA-LOADSHEDDING✔
#loadshedding #Eskom pic.twitter.com/JlqQb1z6n8

— Jane Sithole (@moloisrj) June 14, 2018

#Loadshedding #Eskom

Dear Mr President @CyrilRamaphosa

We need to discuss the fact that unesphithiphithi shame.

It’s not even a year petrol is R16, VAT went up, now we have load shedding what’s next ?

Entliek JZ never gave us such problems in the 9yrs he was around. pic.twitter.com/yUlt3oA0Ya

— Phiwe Nzima (@Iam_TheBossLady) June 14, 2018

Ramaphosa has only been a president of the country for like 3 months but kuningi okwenzekile
•VAT went from 14% to 15%
•Petrol went up
•CIT Heists
•Loadshedding #Loadshedding
Msholozi buya baba sasidlala, it’s too much pic.twitter.com/qZ4eD4NyNc

— Ayanda Xolani Nkosi (@_AyandaN) June 14, 2018

Even former Eskom boss Brian Molefe received a shout out. Albeit not a very positive one.

#Loadshedding

A rare pic pic.twitter.com/nW3TkxkvFH

— Tumi Sole (@tumisole) June 14, 2018

We miss you #BrianMolefe #Loadshedding pic.twitter.com/2jZb3WmeBi

— Blackspice (@TheBlackspice) June 14, 2018

As of 10pm Thursday, loadshedding was suspended, but its not clear if its set to be re implemented on Friday and through the weekend.

Feature image: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash