A major industrial business park in Emfuleni has allegedly been without electricity for 23 days, placing businesses, jobs and livelihoods at risk.

This is according to DA Emfuleni Ward 15 councillor and DA Vaal regional chairperson Prudence Hlanyane, who said Duncanville Extension 3 remains without power despite interventions at senior municipal level.

The industrial area is home to engineering firms, factories, tyre retreaders and other employers.

According to Hlanyane, the DA engaged both the Chief Operating Officer and Municipal Manager on behalf of affected businesses, but the outage has not yet been resolved.

She claimed the municipality may not have the funds needed to procure replacement transformers and further alleged that suppliers have refused to carry out the work without upfront payment.

“ELM is now responsible for the loss of millions of rands worth in revenue, as businesses have been unable to operate,” Hlanyane said.

She added that some businesses have been forced to rely on generators to continue operating, while others are unable to run heavy industrial equipment using alternative power sources.

One business owner reportedly told the DA that closure processes may have to begin if the situation continues, potentially affecting 16 employees.

Another business owner allegedly spends about R60 000 per day on diesel to power generators, amounting to more than R1.3 million during the outage. The business owner also estimated lost revenue at more than R3 million.

The DA has called on Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to intervene and assist in resolving the ongoing electricity crisis.

At the time of publication, comment from the Emfuleni Local Municipality was being sought.