The cost of rolling blackouts is estimated to exceed R1.2 trillion and small businesses are not exempt from the financial impact.
“To fully comprehend the extent of the impact that loadshedding has on the SME sector, we need to consider what it has meant for employees’ pockets as well as their daily working regimes.” This was also reflected in the results of the Q4 2022 SME Confidence Index conducted by Business Partners Limited, where 39% of small business owners reported that their business’ productivity levels had declined as a direct result of the rolling blackouts.
“The possibility of downsizing and salary reductions is a looming reality for many of the country’s small businesses that simply cannot afford to absorb the risks and costs of rolling blackouts. This consequence has been felt most acutely by township and rural-based businesses.”