Apps for load shedding prove popular

YOU’D think that Facebook, Instagram or BBM would be the most popular app in South Africa.

But think again – two out of three of the most downloaded free iPhone apps are load shedding schedule and alert apps.

They are only beaten out of first place by WhatsApp – the most popular application in the world, according to App Annie, a data and mobile analytic website.

The two load shedding apps have overtaken Facebook Messenger and Facebook, which are now in fourth and fifth place respectively.

Of the free apps, EskomSePush is in second place. The name of the app is a play on words for a well-known Cape Flats insult, and the app enables users to choose from more than 50 000 areas to get load shedding push notifications and predictions.

In third place is the Loadshedding – Notification and schedule for Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban app.

Claire Booty, of App Annie, said the index was reporting the app-store free rankings and was determined by downloads rather than usage.

“EskomSePush entered the top five on May 18 and Loadshedding returned to the top five in May. It has been there a few times since its launch earlier this year,” she said.

The creators of EskomSePush, Herman Maritz and Dan Wells, who are based in Stellenbosch, said their app would surpass WhatsApp. Maritz said the pair had created the app a month ago, and it had been downloaded 50 000 times.

“About a month ago we saw that apps made for load shedding were really not that great. We are trying to make this the best load shedding app. We’re also looking to secure funding as it grows,” he said.