By Azwidohwi Mamphiswana
Heavy downpours have caused widespread flooding across the country, severely disrupting small businesses.
The SA Weather Service issued an orange level 5 warning for disruptive rain in Gauteng, where local business owners have reported significant losses and operational delays.
Small businesses in sectors including beauty, construction and agriculture are grappling with impact of the persistent rain. Many owners have reported a significant drop in sales, with reduced foot traffic and delayed deliveries affecting their bottom line.
In Pretoria, Lindiwe Mhlongo, who is the owner of a hair salon, said her sales and client numbers have decreased drastically.
“People are staying indoors due to the weather, and those who do come out, are only doing so out of necessity,” she explained.
Agricultural businesses, particularly farmers, are facing severe challenges due to flooding and waterlogged fields.
Annie Roux, a snail farmer from Centurion, said the excess moisture has led to the death of some of her snails, and weakened shells could affect her earnings for months.
“The rain has disrupted breeding cycles and some of my snails have moved to drier areas, making it harder to track them,” Roux said.
Meanwhile, logistics companies are dealing with major delivery delays.
Sipho Ngwenya, a Bolt car owner in Pretoria, reported delays of up to three hours per delivery.
“The roads are flooded, making it difficult to meet deadlines and this is affecting my clients and rising costs,” he added.
The construction industry is also feeling the effects of the weather. Thabo Tshabalala, a construction business owner in Pretoria, said the frequent halts to work due to unsafe conditions have caused costly delays.
“The wet ground makes operating machinery difficult and we’ve had to stop work multiple times because of safety concerns,” Tshabalala explained.
Health and safety risks are growing, especially in sectors like construction and logistics. Tshabalala had to suspend work after an employee slipped on a wet surface.
“The safety of our workers is a priority and the wet conditions are making it difficult to operate safely,” he said.
Despite the ongoing weather challenges, small business owners are adapting.
Mhlongo has turned to digital platforms, offering online discounts to encourage customers to book mobile appointments.
“We’ve been promoting our services on social media to attract customers who are staying home due to the rain,” she said.
The heavy rains are expected to continue until Thursday.
