Solar-Powered Town Plunged into Darkness as South Africa’s Blackouts Persist

A wave of frustration has engulfed a South African town as it grapples with the aftermath of a legal dispute with a state-owned power utility. This unfortunate turn of events has compelled the town’s solar plant to discard critically needed electricity, exacerbating an already dire energy crisis plaguing the country. Frankfort, a farming community situated approximately 140 kilometres (90 miles) south of Johannesburg, is home to around 5,800 residents. In an effort to mitigate the devastating effects of pervasive nationwide power outages lasting up to 12 hours daily, the town began harnessing locally generated energy in February.