Load shedding woes for local business
Local businesses have suffered major loss as a result of load shedding and fear more loss over the busy festive season.
WHILE Durbanites endured the inconvenience of Eskom’s intermittent load-shedding over the last week, local Morningside businesses say they suffered major damage and loss of businesses.
A pharmacy at Windermere Centre was unable to develop photographs after their Kodak picture kiosk packed up as a result of the weekend’s double dose of load-shedding. “We had three machines, the last remaining one stopped working after the second load-shedding on Saturday. We have lost a lot of business because the machine was an attraction especially for ID photos and cellphone pictures,” said Monica Venter, a staff member at the pharmacy. Venter said the machines were very expensive and to get spares for them was difficult.
Lynda Kopsch, owner of Silver Cage jewellery store, said she was dismayed with Eskom's recent load-shedding. “We are absolutely at the end of our tether! It's Christmas time and we wait for the end of the year to make up for any loss of turnover throughout the year. This year we have already taken a knock with the revamp of the centre so really had our hearts set on a busy festive season. We are very upset with the load-shedding and they don’t even stick to the schedule,” she said in exasperation.
Kopsch explained that Sunday load-shedding was scheduled for the middle of their shortened business hours so she told her staff not to come in as she would handle the shop. “I get here and the lights didn’t go off so I was alone in the shop when we had a bit of a rush. I don’t understand why they can’t do the load-shedding at night or the early hours of the morning, when everyone is sleeping. I don’t mind not watching TV or cooking, but when it affects so many during business hours and now at Christmas, it's wrong!”
Rani Moodley, the receptionist at Blue Taboo salon, said load-shedding had made life quite inconvenient but they managed to make a plan. “We had load-shedding twice on our busiest day, a Saturday! We had a wedding crowd with a bride but we brought in spot lights and luckily our friends from across the road assisted because they had lights.”
Stylist Rita Naidoo said she does not let anything get her down and usually works around any hiccups in life so treated the load-shedding the same. “As long as our clients don’t mind us making a plan for them to get their hair done. It is an inconvenience to them but it’s something that we can’t help. The only thing I miss is my tea and coffee, it’s not too drastic,” she said.
