A concerned resident posted on the Hoedspruit Town Facebook page about the apparent lack of stock on PicknPay’s shelves. PicknPay Hoedspruit’s management responded on social media by saying that load shedding is putting strain on their equipment. “Every time the power comes back on, the refrigerator compressors are under pressure (like your appliances at home). Eventually, something pops.” They asked customers on social media to bear with them that the fridges were to be fixed the same day, Thursday last week.

“Unfortunately suppliers are finding it very difficult to keep up production during load shedding, we get emails from big suppliers (Premier Milling, Sasko, farmers under electronic irrigation) to inform us that they are underproducing. They already work 24-hour shifts and can’t keep up with the limitations of load shedding. Coupled with the Christmas demand, they haven’t caught up yet. PnP, like other supermarkets, is trying to order up to cover for short supply, but where do we store the stock?

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“Please bear with us as we adjust to this new situation. We have a great customer service department and will answer your questions,” they responded on social media. Another resident, Vince van Rooyen, said that it is understandable since load shedding is affecting everyone negatively. “I think we all have to adjust our expectations from large retailers to be in line with the current challenges facing them and other businesses.

It is not quite the same environment in which they have to operate than that of a couple of months ago. I applaud the retailers, restauranteurs and other business owners who have the courage to continue operating under the current hostile business climate. “ I have also always found the staff at PnP Hoedspruit very approachable with anything regarding stock,” he posted.