Businesses between Johan Road and Bothma Street along Beyers Naude Drive have been without any electricity since November. Dave Cain, who repairs motorcycle components, said the power went out somewhere between November 13 or 18.
“It still hasn’t come back and there has been no power since then. I have a little generator but I can only do about 10% of my workload. It costs me R300 day to keep it running. I have put my workers on short time and luckily I haven’t had to let go anyone yet but it is looming.”
Cain is one of many other business owners in the area who are beyond frustrated with the prolonged lack of electricity and the lack of agency from authorities. He said he had tried numerous times to get hold of his ward councillor, Jacque Hoon. “I have pleaded, sworn, threatened and spoken nicely. In fact, he’s the first person I called when this happened but I haven’t heard from him. We have contacted City Power and they are also aware.”
Small businesses affected include a bakery, a crèche, spaza shop and a scrap yard. This has had a devastating domino effect on not just customers, but employers, workers and their respective families.
Jessy Aghamobi who owns the spaza shop said they have been suffering for a long time and it does not seem like they will receive help anytime soon. “We are struggling to survive. I’ve got two kids and my husband, and we are all suffering. I used the generator for the kids to do their school work. It does not carry the fridge. I have to get rid of my freezer because it had all the meat. I have this space where people could sit down and eat but I can’t even cook.” She said the issue has also made them vulnerable to crime and break-ins.
“We spent most of November and all of December without power, and we are now in January. The business is down. We can’t even pay rent for our shops. We cannot afford to move and we can’t afford to stay. We are all affected in this complex,” she exhaled.
Aghamobi and Cain are among the few small businesses that still have their doors open. Many have had to close up shop or suspend business for who knows how long.
City Power has not responded to the questions sent to them, and Councillor Hoon’s phone went straight to voicemail.
