DStv Channel 403 Friday, 07 February 2025

Only 30% of taxpayers can meaningfully respond to power cuts: survey

JOHANNESBURG - Only 30% of taxpayers can respond meaningfully to rolling blackouts according to research conducted by BrandMapp.

The company has published the results of its SA Blackouts Report survey, after polling more than 1,500 people earning R10,000 or more.

According to the findings, 70% of taxpayers can only afford to respond to power cuts in minor ways.  

Brandon de Kock from Brandmapp, explained, "the people we're talking about here, they're the taxpayers, people living in households that earn more than R10,000, it only applies to the segment of South African society that is most able to respond. Not the poorer or lower income, these are the people who can afford it."

READ: SA's electricity crisis | Western Cape's plans to end blackouts

"The saddest thing that we've found is that 61% of people say they've bought candles...it's kind of frightening we've been pushed back to pre-First World War, Victorian times."

"There's a 70/30 equation here, 30% of people have been able to do something meaningful to buy an inverter or afford a solar inverter...but 70% of middle-class and up South Africa doesn't seem to be able to or have the means to make a meaningful response. So, it's candles, USB lighting, it's band-aids, it’s not surgery."

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