Attempting to build an economy, businesses are falling through cracks in the crumbling infrastructural foundations.
The economic struggles of the past 15 months have been tumultuous, causing knock-on effects for businesses and property owners, alike. Clinton Shahim is the landlord of the property on the corner of CR Swart and Ontdekkers Roads that houses several businesses, including the William Hunt car dealership. Since April this year, the premises has been subjected to numerous power outages caused by the hijacking of the electricity lines that run just outside their perimeter wall along President Street.
As a landlord, Clinton is obligated to ensure the infrastructure on the property is in full working order, and he is being stretched thin chasing the criminal shadows devaluing his asset. Having spent R100 000 on surveillance cameras, R50 000 on invertors for back-up power, and R90 000 on additional lighting, the financial cost is making the situation untenable.
In what has become an almost daily occurrence, cable thieves and pirate electricians dig through the tarmac or the soil around the electric boxes to access the network. Resultant power surges have damaged valuable machinery and caused lengthy outages, some lasting several days at a time. Clinton fears that the loss of business caused to his tenants could force them to leave the property.
One of the tenants at the premises requires a large volume of uninterrupted electrical supply to carry out their work effectively. RevTyre Tech specialise in a nano polymer seal that puncture-proofs tyres, and the unique sealant needs to be heated to over 200 °C before being applied. Owner Alvan Ireland has four generators and spends R1 000 a day on diesel. As a start-up with a unique product, they have been unable to fulfil orders and are only running at 40% capacity.
Another tenant, John Cordir of WrapZone, recently spent R90 000 to repair two printers damaged by a power surge. WrapZone prints vinyl coverings for automobiles and helicopters, and the mass cancellation of orders, which is costing the company R25 000 per day, is putting the livelihoods of his 14 staff at risk. After 13 years in the industry and four at the CR Swart Road premises, John stressed this period had been by far the worst.
With the added weight of load-shedding, City Power is bearing the brunt of angry businessmen bleeding precious resources. “The fact is that I have reached out to top City Power management. I have requested site meetings and when my messages are acknowledged, I am told to report the matter to the call centre. I have received no help and no solutions,” claimed Clinton.
When the lights finally go out on businesses, who will be left to see the fingers of blame being pointed in the darkness?
