South Africans celebrated the repeal of the remaining lockdown regulations a week ago, but those celebrations were short-lived when rolling blackouts were resumed, leaving everyone frustrated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday 27 June the power utility Eskom made the shocking announcement that loadshedding would increase from stage 4 to 6 owing to a wage strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The blackouts have continued unabated, shifting between the stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This has had a negative impact on many small business owners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kensington resident Yumnah Ismail, who runs a small baking business from her home, the loadshedding has been bad for business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI now have to work on orders around the loadshedding schedule,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf people order savouries and want them baked I can\u2019t assist them. With Eid approaching I need to bake biscuits, so now I need to work extra hours. I have two freezers with stock and it will affect my stock because the electricity is off three times a day for two or more hours.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ismail says this is a huge blow to her pocket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have invested in a gas stove, but now I can\u2019t use my oven. I had quite a big order recently that I had to decline because I would not have been able to assist them. This is bad, electricity is so expensive and so is everything else, so we cannot afford to decline orders, every penny helps.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Octavia Williams, a beauty therapist based in Observatory, says it\u2019s been \u201chorrible\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe majority of my bookings are made ahead of time, and we receive the loadshedding schedule only on the day. Most times I have to reschedule clients because of this. Some days they don\u2019t stick to the schedule and then I have to call clients and ask them to come at short notice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Williams says she\u2019s unable to use alternative equipment as these items are expensive for a small business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe majority of my equipment requires electricity. Rechargeable equipment is expensive, which I am unable to afford because I don\u2019t have many clients due to the loadshedding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hazel Walton, who owns a bar in Observatory, says: \u201cWe have a generator so we can have the lights on in the bar, but the remote for the gate doesn\u2019t work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt has affected the battery of the alarm; in the middle of the night I get a call from the security company asking me about the alarm. We will certainly have to replace that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She says she also runs an animal charity shop and manages student accommodation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe shop and bar are badly affected, we see fewer clients. People don\u2019t feel safe coming to the bar at night, because the street lights are off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt affects our fridges and card machines, because from the generator you only run a limited number of things. At the student accommodation there are no lights so the students have to back up their work.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rosheda Muller, President of the South African Informal Traders Alliance (Saita), says the loadshedding is devastating, especially for economy workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt must be understood informal workers transcend those working as market and pavement traders, and include home-based and backyard businesses that are dependent upon a stable electricity supply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany are entrepreneurs who manufacture their own products, and when there are electrical disruptions, it affects them insofar as productivity is concerned.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She says traders\u2019 safety is being compromised as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany informal traders leave very early to get to the markets and with loadshedding they are prone to being accosted and attacked in the dark hours. Also, they are unable to prepare lunches for them or their dependents without electricity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muller says this comes while the sector is still trying to recover from the effects of the lockdown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCertainly people in the sector whom we speak to on a daily basis across the country feel despondent, and to a great degree, betrayed, and we can only hope that the situation will improve for the benefit of all South Africans.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
South Africans celebrated the repeal of the remaining lockdown regulations a week ago, but those celebrations were short-lived when rolling blackouts were resumed, leaving everyone 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