Small retailers are struggling after load shedding made its unwelcome comeback. They face financial losses, operational setbacks and damage to equipment.

This article is free to read.Sign up for free or sign in to continue reading.Unlike our competitors, we don't force you to pay to read the news but we do need your email address to make your experience better.Create your free account or sign in FAQ | Contact Us Nearly there! Create a password to finish signing up with us: You want to receive First Thing, our flagship daily newsletter. Opt out at any time. Please enter your password or get a sign in link if you've forgotten A code has been sent to .... Please check your email and enter your one-time pin below: Didn't get the code? Resend email Use your password instead? Enter password Open in Gmail Open Sesame! Thanks for signing up.

Listen to this article 5 min Listen to this article 5 min Ifran Patel, the owner of Lenasia's Supermarket Station, said the return of load shedding this week was already having a dismal effect on his business.

"The load shedding has had a devastating impact. It feels like I am already out of business. Business is run on a plan and at the moment I do not have a plan because I cannot buy more stock," Patel told Daily Maverick.

"Load shedding is affecting our business too much. If it's load shedding hours, it means I cannot cook the chickens in the electric machine and business literally stalls. We are now using the gas bottle for cooking and it's costing a lot."

After celebrating 300 days without load shedding in January 2025, Eskom announced a brief period of power outages in early February followed by prolonged load shedding this week.

Patel is not alone. Many small retailers are beginning to feel the pinch. They have raised concerns about spoilt stock, damaged electrical appliances and huge income losses.

Hossain Nur, boss of Delicious Fast Foods near the Lenasia taxi rank, told Daily Maverick this week that he was spending R1,150 on...