Oh crumbs, what a waste
Lack of electricity left one bakery owner feeling rather browned off.
ESKOM’S rotational load shedding and/or a suspected power failure affected businesses in Port Shepstone last week. Last Friday the power utility confirmed that the emergency has been lifted, yet parts of Port Shepstone were without power.
New Anchor Bakery owner Cliff Otto said he had lost a lot of money. “To say that I’m angry is an understatement,” he said. “Staff started baking early on Friday, thinking that we would have load shedding. At around 8am we were informed that Eskom had lifted the load shedding. At around 9.45am the power went off, shortly after dozens of rolls and buns had been placed in the oven,” he explained.
He contacted Eskom and was told that there was no load shedding and that the problem might lie with Hibiscus Coast Municipality. Mr Otto contacted HCM but said he received no help. “The rolls and buns were wasted and I had staff standing around doing nothing. I had huge orders that needed to be sent out,” he said.
He wasn’t alone in his frustration. One hairdresser said she could not cut hair because visibility was so poor. “To make matters worse, there was no warm water and we couldn’t use any electrical equipment, like blow-dryers,” she said.
According to Nomusa Zulu, spokesman for Hibiscus Coast Municipality, when the electricity came back on some electrical infrastructure in parts of Port Shepstone suffered damage. “Ridge Road was affected but the problem was resolved. Parts of Reynolds, Wooley and Bazley streets were without power. Our technicians went out and the power was restored at 11am,” said Ms Zulu.
