HIGHVELD – Electricity in Secunda has finally been restored in all areas, but the effect that the power outages had on businesses is enormous.
Some businesses are talking about suing the Govan Mbeki Municipality for losses incurred and a lack of income.
The municipality faced over the past month electricity crises that included cable theft, sub-stations blowing up and inefficant equipment to fix all these problems.
Businesses eventually pitched in and helped to supply the much needed equipment.
Many businessmen are of the opinion that the sub-stations blew due to a lack of maintenance on the municipality’s side.
Also read: Transformer in Secunda burns: Residents without electricity for four days
Kruik Cafe was without electricity for nearly three weeks and had to throw away food to the value of R5 000.
“Luckily, we eventually borrowed a generator from someone. If we had to buy our own generator, it would have cost us nearly R8 000,” said Ms Berna Coetzer, owner of Kruik Cafe.
“If my business incurred a greater loss of income because we could not operate fully, I would have had to let go some of my staff.
“Fortunately, the electricity has been restored.”
The day hospital in Secunda at the Medforum building, also face enormous challenges and extra costs if there is not electricity.
“We have two generators on standby and we service them regularly to ensure that they are in working condition, but it is still a big risk for our patients because a generator is still a machine and anything could go wrong,” said Mr Willem Schoonbee, hospital manager of Mediclinc Highveld and Mediclinic Secunda.
It costs the hospital about R4 200 per day for diesel if the electricity is off.
“We pay our water and electricity bills every month, but we do not get a discount at the end of the month if the electricity was off.
“I think, if the power is out, for any business it is a big loss and it can cause tremendous damage.”
Mr Jaco Horn, owner of Wash Worx near Builders Warehouse, is fuming about the power outages. He is talking about suing the municipality.
“We have lost about R90 000 in 19 days due to the power failures. This includes the money I had to fork out to buy a generator and the diesel it consumed. A car wash business is entirely dependent on electricity and water use,” said Mr Horn.
The justice system in Secunda was also severely affected by the power outages. All court sittings must be recorded for transcribe purposes. The courthouse does not have back up generators and so it cannot be in session when there is no electricity. This led to the postponement of numerous cases.
The community and businesses of Bethal also had to face its own electricity issues after cables were stolen.
Also read: UPDATE on electricity problems in Secunda
A veterinarian in Bethal, Dr Hardus Pieters of the Bethal Animal Clinic, said his clinic cannot operate without electricity.
“My heaters, machines for oxygen, lights, machines and the equipment I use in my laboratory, everything runs on electricity,” said Dr Pieters.
“I also have to store the medicine for the animals in a fridge, so it is really a big problem for me if I do not have electricity.
“I do have generators and I have to use them if I do not have electricity otherwise I cannot run my clinic.”
However the generators also comes with extra costs as Dr Pieters has to use about 60 l of diesel in a 24 hour period.
