Business goes two weeks without power

Local business Kumho Tyres Primrose was left in the dark, struggling without power, for three weeks due to cable theft.

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According to Roxanne Payne, business manager, said they have been without power since the second week of January.

“We had to retrench one of our employees already. Without power, we cannot do anything and we are losing business,” said Payne.

“The only one generator we have cannot power up all our equipment and fuel is expensive, costing us almost R300 a day.

“The wheel alignment and balancing machines can’t operate on the small generator, and that’s where most of our business comes from,” said Payne.

GCN has reported extensively on Germiston businesses struggling due to power cuts.

In December businesses on Meyer and Pretoria streets suffered a loss of income as they were without power from November 25 to December 2.

Business operators then told GCN they had to operate their shops using generators.

Joseph Osagie of Ostap Cafe then said the cost of fuel forced businesses to increase service fees to consumers.

Last week GCN reported that Germiston CBD’s economy continues to suffer as a shop at 55 Joubert Street had been left with no choice but to use generators to keep their business afloat after losing power on January 6.

The business operators have been experiencing problems with their electricity since they reopened after the December holidays on January 3.

“To run our business, we have to make use of a generator. This is done at a cost of R400 to R600 per day. The costs accumulate and for the first 13 days we are looking at about R5 200, ” said Bernice Smith, Germiston Locksmith manager.

GCN again sent a request for comment to the City of Ekurhuleni on February 3, requesting comment on Primrose businesses suffering from power outages, by February 7 at 10:00.

At the time of going to print, GCN had not received any comment.