Load-shedding hurting North Durban businesses

FOR close to a year, South Africans have been facing blackouts on a daily basis.

The electricity shortage has negatively impacted residents, however, the impact on businesses has been more pronounced.

Many businesses have struggled to remain operational due to the rolling blackouts with higher stages of load-shedding expected this winter.

Northglen News spoke to La Lucia dentist Dr Jordan Sagathavan and Durban North butcher Rajit Jurakan on how the load-shedding has affected them and their fears as the country moves to higher stages of no electricity supply.

Also read: eThekwini Municipality releases amended load-shedding schedule

For Jurakan, who runs Arcadia Butcher on Umhlanga Rocks Drive, load-shedding has already led to an increase in operating costs and declining margins, affecting profitability.

“Without electricity, I am not able to use certain equipment, such as refrigeration units, grinders and slicers, which are essential for running my shop efficiently. We sometimes have to incur spoilage of perishable goods. Loss of customers is what impacts us the most as we are affected during peak business hours on a Friday to name one of the disruptions.

“Overall, it is a result of increased costs – I incur additional costs to mitigate the impact of load-shedding. Eskom, in my opinion, needs to take these factors into account and assist businesses in terms of the cut of power to businesses. Some strategic solution needs to be in place before more local businesses are lost which will inevitably impact on the economy of our country,” Jurakan said.

His sentiments were echoed by Sagathavan, whose practice on Armstrong Avenue has also been affected.

“I cannot treat patients when the lights are out. All of the equipment I use – the compressor, the chair, the suction motor and other specialist equipment – all require electricity. Every week, my staff and I consult the load-shedding schedule to ensure we cannot see anyone during the electricity outages in the area. Unfortunately, this has impacted my business, and it is hurting us.

Also read: Electricity outages cause havoc for Glen Anil businesses

“I know many other business people, and they’ve expressed their unhappiness over the situation. We are all just spending money to keep our businesses running. I do fear what higher stages of load-shedding might do, considering many substations around Durban seem to be affected by the on/off approach, leading to long hours without electricity. This impacts on everyone, myself, the staff and most importantly, my patients. It is a massive concern,” he said.

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