In the Tshakhuma village of Limpopo's Makhado Municipality, 43-year-old Luvhengo Vhulahani undertakes a strenuous journey every Saturday morning to collect firewood. Leaving her home at 6 am, she navigates the terrain around Ha-Botha mountain, balancing a heavy stack of firewood on her head. This arduous routine underscores the daily struggles of families living without electricity, especially as they try to prepare meals and provide for their young children. Upon her return, Vhulahani is greeted by the pressing hunger of her family, especially her two-year-old child awaiting food.

The lack of access to electricity means that Vhulahani and her family rely on traditional methods for cooking, which presents additional challenges. Her 74-year-old grandmother, who often prepares meals, struggles with physical limitations that make cooking and managing the fire increasingly difficult. As they wait for Vhulahani to return with firewood, the pressure mounts as hunger sets in amongst the family members. This situation is exacerbated by the grandmother's deteriorating eyesight, which makes handling fire safely even more perilous, showcasing the intersection of age-related challenges and self-sufficiency in resource-limited environments.

This story not only sheds light on the individual experience of Vhulahani's family but also reflects a broader social issue in South Africa, where many communities still lack reliable access to electricity. The implications of this reliance on firewood are significant, ranging from health impacts related to smoke inhalation to the physical toll on individuals who must undertake such demanding labor to meet the basic needs of their households. Vhulahani's every trek symbolizes the struggle for survival faced by numerous families in similar situations, illustrating the need for infrastructural developments in rural areas as South Africa continues to grapple with issues of access and equity in energy distribution.