South Africans’ annoyance at power cuts has given way to worry, with business owners complaining that the prolonged energy crisis for which no end is in sight is eating into profits and hobbling economic activity.
At Native Rebels, a colourful second-floor bar flanked with a large balcony in the Johannesburg township of Soweto, the cost of running a generator to keep lights on for weeks has been a huge burden, co-owner Masechaba Nonyane told AFP. “We thought Covid was bad… now that has been replaced with eight hours of no power,” the 33-year-old entrepreneur said. “It’s been really, really crippling,” she added.—AFP
