Unplanned power outages in Soshanguve are increasingly disrupting small businesses, with entrepreneurs warning that the financial toll is becoming unsustainable. Unlike scheduled load shedding, the sudden electricity cuts in the City of Tshwane often occur without warning, leaving business owners unable to plan, protect stock, or maintain daily operations.
For many township entrepreneurs, the unpredictability is the biggest challenge.
Peter Nkuna, owner of Nkuna’s Pub in Soshanguve Block LL, said the frequent power outages are affecting daily trade and the customer experience.
“When the power goes off unexpectedly, everything stops,” Nkuna said.
“We rely on electricity for refrigeration, music systems and lighting. If customers arrive and there’s no power, they leave. That’s direct income lost.”
Nkuna said outages have led to operational setbacks and reduced sales.
“If fridges are off for too long, drinks are no longer cold. Customers won’t stay. That affects our revenue,” he said.
Food businesses under pressure
Small businesses operating in food retail and hospitality say outages immediately translate into lost income and damaged stock.
Buhle Masango, who runs Buhle Ice Cream Bar in Soshanguve, said business suffers significantly when the electricity supply is interrupted.
“My business depends entirely on the freezer. If the power goes off for hours, the ice cream starts melting. Even if it comes back, the quality is affected. That’s money lost,” Masango said.
She also added that the unpredictability makes it difficult to manage stock levels.
“You can’t even plan properly because you don’t know when the next outage will happen. Sometimes you reduce stock because you’re scared of losing it, but that also means fewer sales,” she added.
Growth and jobs at stake
These entrepreneurs warn that unreliable electricity supply does more than disrupt daily operations, it threatens long-term growth and job creation.
“If we want to grow and maybe hire more people, we need stability. Without reliable power, it’s difficult to expand,” Nkuna said.
Township SMEs play a critical role in local economic activity, particularly in communities where unemployment remains high. Business owners argue that stable municipal infrastructure is essential for sustaining and scaling their operations.
City’s response
In a statement, the City of Tshwane said it understands the inconvenience caused by the outages and assured residents that restoration work is being prioritised.
The City said it has been experiencing a spate of cable theft, vandalism and infrastructure tampering, which disrupts electricity and water supply and can leave communities without services for days.
“These incidents of theft and vandalism disrupt the water and electricity supply, which can leave residents without power and water for days,” the City said.
The City warned that acts of sabotage could result in prolonged power and water interruptions, causing significant disruption to communities. It stressed the importance of protecting municipal infrastructure, networks and public assets to prevent further service delivery breakdowns.
