- The Department of Basic Education says load shedding is not affecting the matric exams because natural light is available when they write their papers.
- But a matric pupil says studying is a challenge and that she is forced to use candles and rechargeable lights.
- Meanwhile, teachers' union, Naptosa, has advised pupils to leave home early to avoid delays on the road caused by load shedding.
Load shedding is not directly affecting the matric exams because candidates are writing their papers in natural light, according to the Department of Basic Education.
However, it affects evening studying which is why the department is urging pupils to study as much as they can in the day.
Power utility Eskom announced that Stage 4 load shedding would continue throughout the week until Friday 05:00.
Stage 2 will then be implemented.
READ | Matric 2021: D-Day for pupils as exams kick off
Fin24 previously reported that Eskom spokesperson Sikhonathi Mantshantsha said a "major incident" in Zambia on Saturday affected the entire Southern African power pool. Imported power from Cahora Bassa reduced by 1 000 MW, and a Tutuka generator tripped. A unit at Tutuka power station was forced to shut down and there were delays in returning units at Lethabo and Majuba power stations.
Feeling the brunt of load shedding is 18-year-old Bonolo Chabedi from Sharpeville who attended General Smuts High School in Vereeniging in the south of Gauteng.
Chabedi, a mathematics and science pupil, told News24 that her final exams were going well but that power outages were a barrier for her.
"It is very distracting because I normally use my phone for research and find PDF[s] of documents which I use for studying. Sometimes you get home and your phone is flat, there's no electricity and you want to use your computer for research. It creates a boundary between you and the way you should be studying," Chabedi said.
When there is no electricity she uses a text book, which is not always helpful because "you don't get the answers that you want".
Chabedi said this meant that she ended up studying until late in the night.
She added:
But she is optimistic: "I am going to make it no matter what. I feel like the load shedding is getting in the way of making things easier. We always have to take the hard road to get where we want to be. If it means taking the hard route to get where I want to be, I definitely will. I will make it."
Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga advised parents and pupils to make alternative arrangements to prepare for their assessments.
He added that most studying happened at home and that power challenges were experienced there.
"But during the day, we advise them (matric pupils) to stay in school and study. Stay there and make good use of the daytime sunlight that is available to you in school," Mhlanga said.
He added:
Mhlanga added that examinations have been continuing amid load shedding over the past few years and that all centres are expected to be able to proceed.
Naptosa executive director Basil Manuel added that the union was also concerned about the scores of pupils using public transport to reach exam venues because they experience delays on the road when the load shedding affects traffic lights.
"We are now at a point where we are encouraging people to leave much earlier than their normal time and that then puts them in [the] space of workers going to work and there is a tussle for seats, etc."
Manuel added: "Think of dull [and] poorly lit venues even on a bright day. If the lights are not on, that venue is dull and not optimal. And when you consider that we have had overcast days, you can imagine how bad those classrooms were. Not all places can bring in artificial lighting, etc, additional to electricity and few places would have generators. So, it is a concern."
