Generator diesel costing thousands every week and reliance on oxygen for sick husband: 'Why we're marching'

She said the hospital supplied them with oxygen tanks to be used during blackouts.

“When we have electricity we use the oxygen machine. But with the increase in load-shedding, the oxygen tank only lasts him about two weeks.

“This is scary for us. My husband isn't doing well,” she said.

Boksburg undertaker and funeral home owner Riaan Jantjies said load-shedding has halted the expansion of his business. He said he had intended to start manufacturing coffins but could not do so because of the ongoing power cuts.

He opened Jeanie Funeral Services, named after his late mother, during the pandemic in 2020.

“We have to use generators which cost us about R2,000 to R3,000 per week in diesel,” he said.

But the business started slowing down when load-shedding worsened last year.

“We find some of our customers go to other funeral homes which are bigger,” said Jantjies.

TimesLIVE