Content overview: “Load shedding's lasting toll: South African students link 2023 power cuts to anxiety, poor”. South Africa's 2023 load shedding crisis—when state utility Eskom cut power on 335 of 365 days—continues to affect students, according to new research. The scheduled outages, which often struck multiple times daily, are now linked to heightened anxiety, disrupted sleep patterns, and declining academic performance among learners. With the country now enjoying more than 18 months of stable electricity, the findings highlight how energy insecurity can leave deep psychological and educational scars long after the lights stay on.
Researchers say the unpredictability of blackouts forced students to study by candlelight, miss online resources, and lose sleep over unfinished assignments. The study underscores the need for schools and policymakers to address the mental health and learning gaps created by the 2023 crisis. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.