Power cuts will further cripple Covid-hit businesses: Economist

Power cuts will further cripple Covid-hit businesses: Economist

An economist says peak night-time load shedding will hurt businesses that are trying to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Rolling blackouts returned this week with the breakdown of several generation units.


On Tuesday, Eskom said one had returned to service and had been expecting another unit to come back during the course of the night.


Dawie Roodt of the Efficient Group says businesses such as restaurants are still picking up the pieces from the more severe lockdowns.


READ: Inflation quickens at fastest pace in more than a year


He says having to close for another reason is not favourable.


"Obviously, the load shedding will affect different industries differently. For example the restaurant industry will be quite heavily hit and we know that the restaurant industry is one of those industries that really suffered the past year or so. 


"But apart from that, I think we also have to understand is that the South African economy has been going through a very difficult time. Last year was particularly difficult and its very important for us to get this economy to grow in as fast as possible."

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