Illegal power use affects all of us, and Flow Communications is proud to be able to contribute to the promotion of legal electricity use by creating a new website for Operation Khanyisa.
There are people, and even companies, using electricity illegally in South Africa. And that is why the partnership campaign Operation Khanyisa came into existence: the goal of Operation Khanyisa is to encourage all South Africans to use only legal power to “light up” (“khanyisa” in Zulu).
The core partners in Operation Khanyisa are Proudly South African, Business Unity South Africa, Business Against Crime, Primedia Crime Line, the South African Local Government Association and Eskom. They have joined together to try create nationwide awareness of the gravity of electricity theft.
Other organisations are also encouraged to become involved, and AgriSA, the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority are working together with Operation Khanyisa to help prevent electricity theft.
Flow Communications was tasked with designing a new website for Operation Khanyisa to help spread its important message.
Writer Mildred Thabane, who worked on the project, says, “It’s been exciting and challenging – the whole idea of the site is to change people’s behaviour, to get them to stop electricity theft as it affects all of us.” Mildred emphasises the fact that Operation Khanyisa is not simply about advertising and campaigning against electricity theft. Rather, it also seeks to change people’s behaviour and attitudes towards the way we use electricity, encouraging responsible and efficient use of electricity.
Mildred says an entirely new site was necessary as the old one was like an online brochure; there was a need for the new site to be more interactive.
George Xafis, who designed the site, says the process was a learning experience for all involved: “Much research was involved and we played with various concepts. In the end we produced a site that was visually compelling, very informative and easy to navigate, while keeping to relevant issues of electricity theft.”
Web developer Alex Cowling was excited by the project. She says she had been “misinformed on the severity of electricity theft, and working on this project has been a real eye-opener”. She expands on this: “I feel fortunate to be part of getting the truth out into the public, and am proud to pledge to use electricity legally.”
In order to drive the inclusion of as many people as possible in the fight against electricity theft, Flow is also managing social media relationships on behalf of Operation Khanyisa. The Twitter handle is @Op_Khanyisa, and there is also an Operation Khanyisa Facebook page.