World Cup 'eases SA power cuts'

Ads appear on TVs in Cape Town warning about power shortages

Cape Town's notorious power blackouts may become less frequent thanks to the World Cup in Germany, an official says.

The South African city has been worst hit by a nationwide electricity shortage since earlier this year.

Increased demand caused by winter weather had led to predictions of more power cuts until July.

But the city's public lighting manager said there had been a noticeable drop in electricity usage since the World Cup games began last week.

"Everybody rushes home and, instead of putting kettles on, or whatever, which pushes up the peak, they plonk themselves down in front of a TV," Charles Kadalie told the South African Press Association.

"For us it's got a positive impact during the evening peak time, when the load normally shoots up.

"It means people are saying: 'I'm not going to cook now; I'm going to watch the game'. Which also shows that a lot of dads cook."

While the whole of South Africa has suffered power shortages due to rapid economic growth, power cuts have been more frequent in Cape Town owing to problems at the nearby Koeberg power station: the country's only nuclear electricity plant.

"I want to make a proposal that we keep the World Cup on till October," Mr Kadalie said.