Both electricity produced and consumed fell year-on-year in August 2025.

In a note, Stats SA wrote: "Electricity generation decreased by 3.1% year-on-year in August 2025. Seasonally adjusted electricity generation decreased by 1.1% in August 2025 compared with July 2025, following month-on-month changes of 0.1% in July 2025 and -1.4% in June 2025. Seasonally adjusted electricity generation decreased by 0.6% in the three months ended August 2025 compared with the previous three months."

In terms of electricity consumed, Stats SA wrote: "Electricity distribution decreased by 4.9% year-on-year in August 2025. Seasonally adjusted electricity distribution decreased by 1.1% month-on-month in August 2025, following month-on-month changes of 0.5% in July 2025 and -2.5% in June 2025. Seasonally adjusted electricity distribution decreased by 1.4% in the three months ended August 2025 compared with the previous three months."

Frans Cronje told The Common Sense that: "the data is consistent with what we are seeing in the economic growth rate and in the unemployment rate, both of which remain under pressure, the thing that will most trouble investors and policy makers in this latest data is that whilst enough electricity is being produced to keep the lights on, falling consumption bodes ill for the growth outlook, whilst falling production takes the prospects for any serious industrial investment off the table."

South Africa’s economy is forecast to grow at around just 1% in 2025. This is a quarter of the rate of its emerging market peers. At over 30%, its unemployment rate is roughly six times the global average.

The Common Sense has repeatedly argued that both problems can be easily addressed by refitting South Africa’s coal fleet, stopping taxation of capital investment, allowing private operators to fully take over port and rail operations, and getting serious about striking investment pacts with China and the United States.