2023 Impact Report

As the clock struck midnight on 1 January 2023, I imagine many people made resolutions hoping that 2023 would be their year.  

For many life reverted back to what we knew just before Covid-19 hit in 2020. Many companies did away with working from home. Wearing masks became a distant nightmare. Even the threat of Covid itself, even though it was still around, didn’t scare us as much as those who caught it dealt with it like a common flu.  

But South Africans were lulled into a false sense of security. 2023 had other tricks up its sleeve – something we should have realised when Eskom announced Stage 2 load shedding on 31 December 2022 as many prepared to ring the old year out. It would be a harbinger of a dark and challenging year ahead – literally and figuratively.  

According to the app, EskomSePush, South Africa had 408 390 minutes of load shedding, which is 86% more than any other year since the app first started measuring load shedding in 2015. That’s despite having four ministers to deal with the issue.  

Author CS Lewis wrote: “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”

In that case, South Africans should be well and truly prepared by now for whatever comes their way. 

In February, rapper AKA was shot dead in Durban. A few months later, the country would be left aghast when Facebook rapist Thabo Bester made a spectacular escape from a private prison in Bloemfontein.

As the year progressed, serious allegations involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile would come to light. In September, President Cyril Ramaphosa removed Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane from office a month before her term was to end, following a parliamentary vote.  

Massive knock-on effects from Eskom failing to keep the lights on would become the order of the day. The economy, struggling with high inflation and high interest rates, struggled to stay afloat. Unemployment grew.

Internationally, the Russian invasion of Ukraine continued to hold the spotlight until 7 October when Hamas launched an attack against Israel, killing 1 200 people. This led to Israel declaring war on Hamas. At last count, 18 600 people in Gaza had died, with no ceasefire in sight. 

If there was one ray of sunshine, it would be the Springboks win at the Rugby World Cup in France.  

2023, in many ways – politically, economically, socially – had an impact. 

In this week’s Friday Briefing, News24’s editors and writers reflect on some of the biggest local and international headlines of the year. 

We hope you enjoy the read, and for those of you taking time off as the country shuts down over December, enjoy your much needed rest. And for those remaining in the trenches to ensure everyone’s safety and provide healthcare if and when needed, we salute you. 

Best,

Vanessa Banton 

Opinions Editor