The Fire Protection Association of South Africa reports an average of 300 deaths through fires annually. Of these hospitals and hotels account for 17 fatalities per year. Clearly these deaths occurred in structures without compulsory emergency lighting and so serious litigation and/or criminal charges could ensue.

Load-shedding and power outages also provide criminals with an advantage. SAPS report a marked increase in crime during blackouts. This is particularly relevant to shopping centres where emergency lighting is compulsory. Insurers would balk at suffering loss if compulsory emergency lighting was absent.

Exploring the Relationship Between Load Shedding and Crime in Gauteng: Bhavesh Ram, University of San Francisco: ‘Contact crimes and sexual offences increased significantly during blackouts, with contact crimes rising by 7.8% and sexual offences by 31.4%. The effectiveness of policing was also negatively affected, decreasing by 15% during blackouts.’

And, specifics related to power failures:

Joshua Budlender, SALDRU: ‘In June 2015, a woman died after a load shedding-induced power failure at Letaba Hospital in Limpopo caused her ventilator to stop functioning. On 4 March 2023, Yengiwe Mthimunye died after being turned away from Waterval Clinic in Mpumalanga, because of load shedding. Bhekisisa relayed an anonymised account of a load shedding-induced death at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg in July 2022. On 25 November 2023, a man died after being refused entry to a clinic in Limpopo, reportedly because of load shedding.’