By Daniëlle Gerber
The past month’s loadshedding has swept frustration and humour across South Africa – from joking about the inconvenient darkness to loading up on easy-made meals, there has been national attempts to adapt as best as we can. Yet, there is something that feels like an impossible challenge – and that is Wi-Fi.
While a stroll or break from work could be worked in with the loadshedding schedule, it is not always possible with loadshedding’s increased frequency. Considering the increase in working-from-home schedules since COVID-19 and the student population needing to get lectures done, loadshedding is posing a big problem for the Stellenbosch population. So, what can be done?
A good solution can be to go to a nearby café to get work done, considering that most of them will have a generator that keeps their appliances and router going. Additionally, when thinking about the diverse offerings in Stellenbosch, you are sure to find a place that suits your fancy (at least for the two- and-a-bit hours of loadshedding!).
If you want to make sure about the Wi-Fi option at your want-to-try spot, the Wifi Map app comes in handy! This app allows you to zoom from a global map to your local area and see the relevant Wi-Fi offerings, as added by the local community. While strong Wi-Fi during loadshedding cannot be guaranteed, selecting a few places from the map to move through can be a good place to start!
A sneaky feature of the app also includes being able to see the password through watching an advertisement. This can be a great addition if the take-away coffees are adding up, but you have a dire deadline to meet. Just make sure you are in close proximity, and you should be in the clear.
Be sure to have your devices charged as access to a power source might be limited in a café. Also, it is recommended to go a little before loadshedding hits and the masses mobilize to ensure that you find a good spot to endure the power cut.
While loadshedding can through a big spanner in the works of your day, it does not have to be a complete flop! A little bit of planning and knowing the right spots can turn a stressful situation into a potentially pleasant day (or few hours) out in town!
