Since the age of seven I started delivering newspapers in cold winter mornings in Randhart and Raceview. Those days my biggest concern was to dress warm, while I peddled on my bicycle through the streets of Alberton.
Today, business is completely different and I find myself constantly worrying about the environment in which my business is functioning. It is the most challenging business it has ever been, and staying in business is more difficult and demanding than ever before.
Outside of my political life I like to think that I am a productive corporate citizen of Ekurhuleni and of South Africa. I do my bit to support economic development, while helping government to create much needed jobs for the economy, and sustaining employment for well over a 100 people.
The problem, however, is that business is in crisis – not just my business but the collective businesses in Alberton and Ekurhuleni. Business in Alberton and especially Alrode is facing the most crippling power interruptions to date. Even though business is directing a lot of their anger towards Eskom it is for once not their fault.
This is once again the actions of cable thieves and criminals who have paralysed two of the main sub-stations feeding Alrode with electricity. In an effort to reduce the inconvenience of the current power supply interruption in Alrode, Ekurhuleni has drafted a temporary load reduction schedule to make electricity supply predictable while repairs are taking place. Industries will have as little as two blocks of four hours electricity.
Some parts of Alrode have been was left in the dark since Friday after a theft incident at the Z7 substation in the early hours of Friday morning. Ekurhuleni officials have been working tirelessly to rectify this situation, but while repairs were still under way, the area was again hit with another theft on Wednesday at the Z2 substation.
Alrode and Wadeville is the manufacturing hub of Alberton and Ekurhuleni. In actual fact it is the largest industrial node in South Africa and on the continent of Africa. One of the core employment generators in our region are the industries in Alrode.
I am not sure how much more business and industry can endure, before we start seeing economic casualties and major job losses. Something has to be done about this business crisis. Ekurhuleni should seriously consider directing resources to secure substations that supply industrial areas.
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