---
title: "KFC closes some South African outlets owing to persistent rolling blackouts"
description: "KFC is temporarily closing some of its fried-chicken outlets in South Africa due to power cuts imposed by Eskom."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "POWER CRISIS"
author: "Bloomberg"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/bloomberg/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-28-kfc-closes-south-african-outlets-due-to-rolling-blackouts/"
published: "2022-12-28T13:50:47"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 226
---

# KFC closes some South African outlets owing to persistent rolling blackouts

> KFC is temporarily closing some of its fried-chicken outlets in South Africa due to power cuts imposed by Eskom.

By Bloomberg · Published 28 December 2022, 15:50 SAST

## Key points
- Yum! Brands Inc. chain has decided to close its 750 KFC restaurants in South Africa due to the record-breaking 200 blackout days this year.
- Eskom, which supplies more than 90% of South Africa’s electricity, has implemented nationwide power cuts known as loadshedding to prevent grid collapse.
- The government has awarded bailouts to the highly indebted utility and is taking over two-thirds of its nearly 400 billion rand debt.
- Major companies such as MTN Group Ltd. and Vodacom Group Ltd. have cited blackouts as a disruption of business operations and an additional cost due to back-up equipment like batteries and generators.
- Yum!, based in Louisville, Kentucky, owns and franchises more than 25,000 KFC outlets worldwide, as well as Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants.

## Content

The Yum! Brands chain made the decision after the number of[blackout days passed 200 this year](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-27-south-africa-passes-200-days-of-power-cuts-as-2022-ends/) – a record. Eskom supplies more than 90% of South Africa’s electricity and has implemented nationwide power cuts to prevent the grid from total collapse.

> We are sorry, but due to the ongoing loadshedding, some of our restaurants will be temporarily closed, while others may have limited availability on some of your favourite menu items.
> We apologise for the inconvenience and will be back soon. [pic.twitter.com/RTkWRQLDjO](https://t.co/RTkWRQLDjO)
>
> — KFC South Africa (@KFCSA) [December 27, 2022](https://twitter.com/KFCSA/status/1607655102738841600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

The government has awarded bailouts to the highly indebted utility and has said it will take over as much as two-thirds of its nearly R400-billion debt.

KFC, which has about 750 restaurants in South Africa, is not the first major company to say power cuts are a hindrance to productivity in the country.

*Read in*Daily Maverick*: “*[*After the Bell: The problem with Eskom is that it’s not just Eskom*](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-15-the-problem-with-eskom-is-that-its-not-just-eskom/)*”*

MTN and Vodacom, the two biggest mobile phone companies, have also cited blackouts as a disruptor of business operations and a source of additional costs, due to the need for back-up equipment such as batteries and generators.

Yum!, based in Louisville, Kentucky, owns and franchises more than 25,000 KFC outlets worldwide. The company’s other brands include Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. **DM/Bloomberg**