During 2007 it is estimated that more than 40% of the South African urban population lived in townships compared to 2020 where with an unemployment rate of 43.1% and over 20% of the total population live in informal settlements and low-income housing estates (Stats SA, 2020).

The continuation of Eskom’s deteriorating energy crisis continues to reveal its current inadequacies in the ability to provide the supply of essential energy required. The emphasis and urgency to seek and adopt alternative energy sources should take precedence in order to provide the right to basic essential energy for all, especially to those informal settlements and low-income households.

The insufficient supply of electricity or deficiency of access to electricity in rural areas – in addition to the escalating exorbitant costs and inability to afford electricity amongst urban dwellers, has resulted in desperation with continued reliance on biomass, coal, wood, and paraffin providing the simplest alternative, but not conducive to the environment.

The energy sources mentioned above, compound the high levels of existing air pollution which in turn results in over R2 billion being spent annually in health-related costs. The adverse health effects and the high costs associated with the exposure to pollution should be of major concern, not disregarding the Carbon tax that could be levied based on the sum of greenhouse gas emissions (Carbon Tax Act of 2019), which was implemented 1 June 2019.

Children living in poor communities are confronted with additional pollution and are more at risk of contracting pneumonia and tuberculosis.

The word alternative has been substituted for solution. The solution is to be realized considering that it is 2020 and the rural areas remain a matter of neglect and powerlessness.

A 2013 study published by the Housing Development Agency (HAD) discovered that only 43% of the estimated 1,249,777 recorded households have basic access to electricity used for lighting, heating, or cooking in 2011. As the population increases each year, one can only imagine what the current statistics may reveal. 

Despite the many initiatives put forward in the hope to solve the crisis through the use of available technologies, which provide long-term clean energy solutions and reduce air pollution, and in turn, enables job creation and skills development, the results have been minimal and far too slow.

Most informal settlements currently rely on the creation of micro-grids and connections to the major grid systems, which is already exceptionally limited for the requirements of most urbanized suburbs. The solutions until now are simply unsatisfactory and have been found wanting.

The fight to resolve a South African energy crisis is well underway. Businesses, entrepreneurs, government, and private investors have begun to partner up and promote micro-enterprises on a small scale. However, existing energy statistics act as a harsh reality that such small-scale efforts yield limited progress.   

The fact remains that rural areas are currently facing a serious energy crisis. A crisis that should be at the forefront and priority of a global long-term development plan.