Ezibeleni Recycling Business Struggles Without Electricity for Four Months

KOMANI – A recycling business operating in the Ezibeleni Industrial Area says it may be forced to shut down after allegedly being without electricity for approximately four months.

The business, Imbokodo Green Workplace, claims that its electricity supply was disrupted around the end of November last year following an incident in which cables were reportedly stolen from the area.

According to the company’s director, Bonakalisile Ngquba, the prolonged power outage has had a severe impact on operations and employees.

Ngquba said the business has struggled to continue production without electricity and has been accumulating debt while trying to remain operational.

“We did not start the new year with new beginnings,” the business said in a message to Komani News. “Instead we carried debts from November until now.”

Operations Severely Affected

The recycling operation, based in the Ezibeleni Industrial Area outside Komani, relies heavily on electricity to process recyclable materials and maintain production.

Ngquba stated that the lack of power has meant the business cannot operate normally, while some employees have reportedly stopped coming to work due to the disruption and financial pressure.

The business also indicated that it does not receive government funding and cannot afford to install alternative electricity solutions such as generators or other power sources.

“We have been trying alternative ways to pay debts but it is not enough,” the company said.

The business is appealing for assistance to restore electricity so that production can resume and workers can return to their jobs.

Cable Theft Allegedly Behind Outage

Ngquba said the electricity problem began after cables in the area were allegedly stolen during the night.

Cable theft has been a recurring problem in many parts of South Africa and has frequently disrupted electricity supply to businesses and communities.

However, it is not yet clear whether the incident reported by the business has been formally recorded by the municipality or electricity authorities.

Municipality Asked for Comment

Komani News has sent a media enquiry to Lonwabo Kowa, spokesperson for Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, requesting confirmation on:

• Whether the municipality is aware of electricity outages affecting businesses in the Ezibeleni Industrial Area.

• Whether cable theft was reported at the site mentioned.

• What steps have been taken to restore electricity to the affected business.

• When the electricity supply may be restored.

At the time of publication, no response had been received from the municipality. This article will be updated if comment is provided.

Appeal for Assistance

Ngquba said restoring electricity is essential for the survival of the business and the jobs connected to it.

The company hopes that once electricity is restored, it will be able to resume production and gradually recover from the financial losses experienced during the outage.

Residents or businesses in the Ezibeleni Industrial Area who may be experiencing similar issues are encouraged to contact Komani News.