Free State based small business owners are seeking alternative ways to keep the lights on in their businesses. They are calling for renewable energy amid rolling blackouts.
They say renewable energy would be a viable solution to the constant power cuts, and a solution to saving jobs.
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Entrepreneurs say the unemployment rate in South Africa calls for more strategies to create job opportunities.
Recent data revealed that the national unemployment rate decreased by point 0.8% of a percentage, to 34.5% in the first quarter of 2022.
Small business owners explain, “If they can provide us the generators so that during the day we can work, but if they start with load shedding begin at least at night, I think it will help us a lot.”
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Another business owner load shedding really affects their monthly income and monthly turn over and also paying staff as well.
“It delays the process of the business… We don’t have generators to backup if the load shedding happens.” explains another.