solution for DPR1505 Exam portfolio due 17 May2023 DOTMABE

1.INTRODUCTION This article is going to be about a public relations programme for the introduction of solar energy so as to curb the effects of stage 6 load shedding that has affected, individuals, businesses and the community of south Africa. 2. PLANNING FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAMME AND CAMPAIGNS Why is There Load Shedding in South Africa? by Flow Unfortunately, load shedding is a common occurrence in many African countries and South Africa is no different. In South Africa, the problem lies within the demand and supply of power. Eskom, the South African electricity public utility, does not have enough electricity reserve hence the inability to meet demand. The country was first introduced to load shedding in 2008 as a measure for preventing a nationwide blackout. The load shedding program has still continued to this day with many temporary localized blackouts across the country. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight. In 2021, Eskom CEO, André De Ruyter, said that there will be a shortage of electricity supply of about 4,000 in the next 5 years. Factors that cause load shedding in South Africa Low Capacity The main cause of load shedding in the country is limited electricity supply vs higher electricity demand. The solution? Eskom will have to invest in increasing generating capacity and other energy sources like solar to reduce pressure. See Also How To Claim Road Accident Fund In South Africa Supply Problem Unfortunately, the power sector has still not experienced the needed technology revolution. and running on an old system and machines to generate power in this new age is laughable. Our system still uses coal as a source of energy, which is not only unhealthy for the environment because it is unrenewable but unreliable. Adapted from Uni24 2.1 The opinion maker in the above article is the Eskom CEO2.2 The CEO is considered to be the opinion maker in the above article because he has the capacity to give his own point of view and also to come up with strategies that can be used to eradicate or rather reduce load shedding. 3. THE PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAMME DEFINING THE PROBLEM. Load shedding contributes to the failing economy and affects the most vulnerable members of the community, including school children, those in the farming sector, the tourism industry, public hospitals, small business enterprises, and other essential sectors. Anything that affects small businesses in South Africa also affects our economy, including SMMEs. Small businesses often miss deadlines, put up with inappropriate conditions, and have to deal with the disappointment of their customers when they have to turn them away as they have no power to accommodate them. Load shedding also has a big effect on hospitals and healthcare workers. Sadly, when the power goes out, many public hospitals lose the ability to provide proper health care services. Even though they often have generators to provide backup power, it is still not a sustainable option. Frequent blackouts also affect medical equipment; as health equipment has been upgraded and requires an uninterrupted power source, they get damaged as continuous power cuts occur. Consumables such as pharmaceuticals, medications, and vaccines, that require cold storage, are also a concern as they are unable to be kept at the appropriate temperature during load shedding. The safety of health care workers also gets compromised. Those who finish work late or start very early in the morning are the most vulnerable to criminal acts during power outages. Load shedding also contributes to the backlog of some surgical procedures. Thousands of patients have had to wait longer than they should to undergo surgery. The ministry of health is trying to meet with Eskom weekly to ensure that no lives are lost as a result of this impact. Load shedding is also disruptive to teaching and learning. Some schools aren’t made to let natural light into the classroom, and not all schools have alternative electricity generation. Learning that is reliant on technology is massively affected. As schools move towards the digital era, some have started using smart boards, which are also disrupted as soon as load shedding starts. The daily power cuts also make at-home studying difficult for learners, and the commute to school is also an issue as traffic lights that are out cause students to arrive late to school. Overall, you can see how this has a negative impact on education in this country, disrupting learning for our leaders of tomorrow. Load shedding is causing much anger and frustration across South Africa. Many people have to use public library computers and resources for online learning or training, but that’s not possible when the power goes out. And, with increased criminal activity, many communities have had to increase their community security patrols as security alarms, cameras, and even automated gates are down during load shedding. SETTING THE OBJECTIVES. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROGRAMME ARE TO • TO COME UP WITH ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CURB THE ELECTRICTY CRISIS • TO INTRODUCE SOLAR SYSTEM TO THE PUBLIC THAT ARE AFFORDABLE • TO ERADICATE EFFECTS OF LOADSHEDDING IN THE COMMUNITY • TO DEVICE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY WAY OF GENERATING ELECTRICITY • TO MAKE A CAMPAIGN THAT REACHES AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE • TO DELIVER AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN THAT PROVIDES ENOUGH DETAIL TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAMME. TARGET GROUPS Load shedding destroys businesses and compromises the production of food and provision of social services such as water, sanitation, community safety, education and health. So the programme is targeting Businesses, communities, Schools, Hospitals and many more affected groups.