Chances of national blackout is highly unlikely

During the Master Builders Association (MBA) North's recent AGM, Nedbank economist Isaac Matshego said that the SA's escalating electricity tariffs, energy insecurity and the threat of blackouts are amonth the main factors restricting growth in the economy.
Matshego said that Eskom's reserve margin is low and with each loadshedding, Eskom loses potential payments for electricity consumed. However, loadshedding is implemented to protect the national grid - if it fails the country would face a national blackout. If the grid collapsed, it would take between one and three weeks to get it back up and running. A blackout would mean that hospitals, airports and emergency services would struggle to operate. Banks would close, cell phone towers won't work and water reservoirs and garages would run dry (www.ewn.co.za). However, the chances of the grid collapsing is very slim. This is why Eskom is using loadshedding.
Northern News decided to take a pro-active approach to potential power cuts by asking Delmarie van Zyl, a pharmacists from Lephalale, what items one should stock. She saya people on chronic prescriptions ensure they have enough medicine for a few weeks. "Make sure that you have items like rehydrate (to avoid dehydration, allergex (for allergies) and pasic pain and fever medicine in your kit."
She adds that a burn kit, an antibiotic ointment and eye drops should make out a part of a first aid kit.
Other items handy include: camp lights, torches and batteries. Stack up on easy meals. Ensure that your gas bottles are filled. Keep additional units of water in the house.