South Africa’s blackouts hurt the economy in unexpected ways
While politicians behave like headless chickens, there are fewer of the real sort
“We slaughter chickens 24 hours a day,” says Izaak Breitenbach of the South African Poultry Association (SAPA), an industry body. At least that is the plan. Normally 4m birds are sent to abattoirs every day. But power cuts implemented by Eskom, the state-owned utility, have been “an absolute disaster”, he says, causing butcheries to cease butchering. The curious yet potent effects on this one industry hint at the vast cost of blackouts for the rest of the country’s economy.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Old birds and power cuts”
Middle East & Africa
February 4th 2023- Nigeria’s presidential race goes down to the wire
- Can Kenya bring peace to eastern Congo?
- South Africa’s blackouts hurt the economy in unexpected ways
- Lebanon’s judges battle over their probe of Beirut’s port blast
- Israel’s government is facing anger from new and unexpected quarters
- France dumps Morocco in favour of Algeria
From the February 4th 2023 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the edition
Israel’s army adopts a high-stakes new strategy: more terrain
It remains present inside Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank
The sea is swallowing an African island
In Sierra Leone, adjusting to a warmer climate is getting harder
In a dictator’s palace, Syrians debate a new constitution
Ahmed al-Sharaa will soon have to reveal how sincere he is about the new, inclusive Syria
Could political upheaval hit Jordan next?
Resurgent Islamists and chaos in the West Bank may threaten Jordan’s king
Israel and Hamas have something in common
They both want to avoid a ceasefire collapse, for a few more weeks
How to make cash in Africa’s coup belt
Mining multinationals are learning to do business with juntas