Loadshedding continues to disrupt the lives of Newcastillians and South Africans, particularly in the business sector. However, Newcastle Municipality brings a ray of hope as it introduces measures to mitigate the impact of loadshedding on the local economy.
Cllr Faizel Cassim, along with another councillor and the municipality’s officials, has been instrumental in implementing load reduction initiatives for Riverside Industrial and the CBD.
Under this plan, the Industrial area and the CBD will be exempt from loadshedding Stages 1 to 4 from 6 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. Loadshedding will resume as normal outside of these designated hours, as explained by Cllr Cassim.
Cllr Cassim stated, “We received complaints from the business community about the adverse effects of loadshedding on their operations.” In response, he collaborated with fellow councillors, the electrical department, the Mayor, and other officials to develop an effective strategy to protect Newcastle’s business sector.
The extensive work and discussions led to the decision that the Industrial area, a crucial textile hub, and the CBD would be spared from loadshedding during weekdays from 6 am to 6 pm, covering Stages 1 to 4. However, it is important to note that this exemption does not apply to Stage 6 and beyond.
Cllr Cassim emphasized the significance of this measure, saying, “Many businesses have already closed due to loadshedding, and without a thriving CBD and Manufacturing Sector, unemployment will rise even further. Moreover, if businesses can’t generate income, the local economy suffers.”
With the goal of safeguarding the economy and preventing further job losses in Newcastle, officials are actively exploring ways to address loadshedding challenges. Cllr Cassim assured residents of the municipality’s unwavering commitment to the community’s well-being.
Please share your thoughts on these initiatives in the comment section below.
Good day ….there is a lot of showrooms in town that is buring a lot of lights on after hours is it not possible to request them to switch the lights off after hours …that could help a lot to bring the load off
And what about businesses in the suburbs, we are also taking strain and will have to retrench staff soon if this carries on
Businesses have expanded beyond the cbd. So how is it that these businesses have preferential treatment over the rest?