Businesses ailing as load-shedding powers on
“Its businesses that cannot afford big industrial generators that suffer the most, its affecting us big time.”
With stage 4 load-shedding hitting Pretoria, many small businesses which cannot afford to buy generators are suffering.
“It is affecting us big time,” said Nicholas Geerts, whose family-owned restaurant is in dire straits as load-shedding takes its toll.
Geerts said his restaurant loses as much as R20 000 with each load-shedding session.
Over weekends, such as the previous one, they could lose up to R100 000 – and this could be devastating for his business.
“As a small non-franchise business, it has a big impact on our trade especially at night it leaves us in the dark, literally.”
“If it is for two hours, then it is manageable; however, it has happened before when it is constant and some of our equipment gets damaged and the food also goes off.”
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He said they were currently considering other forms of power and not relying on Eskom, especially as his business is haemorrhaging financially, with no end in sight as Eskom’s woes continue.
La Di Da doggy spa owner Chinelle van Niekerk said load-shedding has also affected her business “badly”.
“For starters, we cannot receive phone calls. So many bookings are not made. We are also running at half capacity because we cannot use all of our electrical appliances.”
She said she has lost a “significant” amount of money as the number of dogs being brought in dropped from 40 to 20.
“Even though we own a generator, the cost of maintaining it is steep. The price of fuel is high and it is expensive to keep it running all day long.”
“We cannot even pick up or deliver dogs efficiently due to traffic lights not working in the city because of load-shedding.”
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Abdul Albdeek, a hairdresser, said he had incurred massive losses in repairing hairdryers that were damaged during the load-shedding.
He told Rekord that he lost about R3 000 with every two hours of load-shedding.
“Some clients do not even wait if they come in the salon and find that there is load-shedding,” said Albdeek.
“I end up not seeing them for a month and lose loyal clients this way.”
Economist professor Bonke Dumisa told Rekord that while small businesses may feel the brunt of load-shedding, they should still look at alternative power sources.
“Businesses must make sure they have the latest load-shedding schedule and make the necessary arrangements.
“Limit your stock so it does not spoil easily.
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“Unfortunately businesses have no recourse at all, such as claiming for losses incurred because of Eskom.
“We need to put pressure on the government to deal with the Eskom fiasco as a whole; otherwise, the problem will just worsen.
“The negative impact of load-shedding on small businesses now runs into millions already.”
He said load-shedding also has a significant impact on the city’s general economy as traffic lights malfunctions because of power outages, which leaves city routes gridlocked.
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