Grade 11 Geography Research Task –
Loadshedding in Kempton Park
STEP 1: Hypothesis
Loadshedding in Kempton Park negatively affects people’s daily lives by causing traffic
delays, financial losses, and disruptions to schooling and home activities.
STEP 2: Background Information
Kempton Park is a growing town in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng. It
has many residential suburbs, shopping areas, schools, and industries. Over the years, the
population and electricity demand have grown rapidly, but the infrastructure has not kept
up. As a result, the town experiences frequent loadshedding.
Power cuts happen mostly during the mornings and evenings. This affects people trying to
get to work or school. Traffic lights go off, leading to traffic congestion. Businesses lose
income, learners cannot study properly, and families are forced to live without heating,
lighting, or cooking power.
Kempton Park is also home to the O.R. Tambo International Airport and many industrial
zones like Isando and Spartan. These areas rely on a constant power supply to run machines
and refrigeration. Loadshedding in these zones leads to job losses and financial problems.
Hospitals, clinics, schools, and homes are all affected. Loadshedding has become a daily
struggle.
STEP 3: Primary and Secondary Sources
Primary Source: Interviews
5 local people were interviewed. Key findings:
- All experience 4–6 hours of power cuts daily.
- Common effects: food spoilage, traffic problems, no study time, loss of income.
- Suggestions: Use solar power, improve Eskom systems, and add backup for public services.
Secondary Sources:
1. Eskom Annual Report 2023
2. News24 (2024) article on stage 6 loadshedding
3. City of Ekurhuleni Infrastructure Report
4. SA Renewable Energy Report
STEP 4: Graphical Information
Bar Graph and Pie Chart showing effects of loadshedding.
(Attached below)
Figure 1: Daily Loadshedding Hours per Respondent
Figure 2: Reported Effects of Loadshedding
STEP 5: Essay (Analysis and Effects)
Loadshedding in Kempton Park has become a serious problem. Based on my research,
people experience 4–6 hours of outages every day. This affects work, school, safety, and
money.
One shop owner said he loses over R1,000 weekly because of spoiled stock. A Grade 11
learner said she can't study at night. A taxi driver mentioned delays and traffic problems
when traffic lights don’t work. These examples show how the whole community suffers.
Kempton Park is growing fast, but Eskom’s system is not reliable. The area’s high demand,
old infrastructure, and breakdowns at power stations cause more blackouts. News articles
confirm these problems, and even clinics and schools are affected.
The graphs from my survey show that most people lose work time or money. The pie chart
also shows how all groups — workers, students, shop owners, and families — are impacted.
In conclusion, loadshedding is damaging Kempton Park’s economy, safety, and education.
The data and experiences support my hypothesis.
STEP 6: Recommendations and Conclusion
Recommendations:
- Use solar panels in homes and schools.
- Government should support Eskom to fix the power system.
- Install backup traffic lights.
- Educate communities about saving electricity.
Conclusion:
The hypothesis is accepted. Loadshedding causes major disruptions in Kempton Park and
must be addressed urgently.
STEP 7: Bibliography
- Eskom. (2023). Annual Report
- News24. (2024). Stage 6 Loadshedding in Gauteng
- City of Ekurhuleni. (2022). Infrastructure Report
- SA Renewable Energy Council. (2023). Energy Report
STEP 8: Original Solutions
- Build solar-powered streetlights and traffic lights.
- Offer free workshops on installing energy-saving devices.
- Use mobile apps to alert residents of upcoming power cuts.
- Build a mini solar farm to supply backup electricity to schools.
