UPDATE: Komani Businesses Say Municipal Failure Has Cost Them R110,000

UPDATE: This article has been updated to include a response from Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality received after publication.

Two established businesses on Cathcart Road say they have collectively spent more than R110,000 on generator fuel after being left without reliable electricity, raising fresh questions about infrastructure maintenance and service delivery in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality.

Superbrake and Kia Motors have been operating on generators while waiting for power to be restored, with owners describing the situation as financially unsustainable.

Speaking to Komani News, Superbrake owner John Bowes said the prolonged electricity problems have placed significant pressure on the business.

According to Bowes, Superbrake has spent more than R60,000 on fuel to keep generators running.

He said the situation has also affected operations, as some equipment and machinery cannot be run effectively on generator power.

The result, he said, has been a direct impact on productivity and turnover.

“We cannot go on like this,” Bowes told Komani News.

Just a short distance away, Kia Motors has faced similar challenges.

Speaking to Komani News, Morne Claasen said the dealership has spent nearly R50,000 on generator costs.

Combined, the two businesses estimate they have incurred generator-related costs of around R110,000.

Businesses Count the Cost

While load shedding once forced businesses across South Africa to invest in backup power, owners say this situation is different.

They argue that they are not dealing with a national power crisis but rather local infrastructure failures that have left them dependent on generators for extended periods.

For businesses already facing rising operating costs, the additional fuel expenditure represents money that could otherwise have been invested in staff, equipment, growth, or customer services.

The inability to operate certain machinery has further compounded the financial impact.

Municipality Working on Site

During a visit to the area, Komani News observed municipal workers carrying out work along the pavement near the affected section.

Workers appeared to be replacing electrical cable infrastructure.

Business owners say they remain frustrated by the length of time they have been dealing with electricity interruptions and the financial burden created by the outage.

The area surrounding the work site also reflects broader infrastructure concerns, with sections of pavement showing numerous holes and uneven paving.

Municipality Responds

Following publication, Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality provided a response regarding the outage.

According to the municipality, the current cable fault affecting the businesses has been ongoing for approximately nine days.

Municipal officials said an earlier fault occurred several weeks ago and damaged material was replaced at that time. However, a new fault later developed on the same cable.

“The first fault occurred a few weeks ago and the damaged material was replaced. The new fault on the cable occurred about nine days ago, not six weeks,” the municipality said.

The municipality confirmed that repair teams are currently on site carrying out repairs.

Officials said fault testing has been complicated by conditions in the area.

“Testing could not be as accurate as it normally gets because Cathcart Road is extremely busy and noisy. The whole cable had to be replaced, not just the repairs on the affected point of the cable,” the municipality said.

Municipal teams were still working on the site at the time the response was received.

Questions Over Infrastructure Management

The outage and subsequent repairs are likely to renew concerns among residents and businesses about the condition of municipal infrastructure and the speed at which critical faults are addressed.

Reliable electricity is essential for economic activity, particularly for businesses that depend on specialised equipment and continuous operations.

Business owners argue that electricity interruptions not only affect individual companies but can also have broader consequences for local economic growth and employment.

At a time when municipalities are under increasing pressure to attract investment and support local business development, affected companies say reliable basic services remain fundamental to keeping businesses operating and protecting jobs.