Plettenberg Bay Defends The Right To Work During Load Shedding

Popular vacation destination Plettenberg Bay economy has lost millions of rands, during the Covid 19 Pandemic lockdown, with the Towns major economy contributor being the accommodation sector, it is unfortunate to see load shedding crippling in, just when the town is recovering.

Restaurant closure during level 4 and three, resulted in Permanent Closure to some establishments with workers losing jobs. When President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the Country going to level 1 on the 1st of October little did the business owners know that their excitement to recover lost endured during level three, will be cut short with the municipality announcing Load shedding.

Bitou Municipality in Plett shared a public statement introducing level two load shedding as from 07 October Thursday to Sunday morning.

According to the press release issued by Eskom, emergency reserves have been depleted faster than expected due to further breakdowns of a generating unit, each Kriel and Tutuka power station today delays in returning general units at Tutuka Grootvlei and Kendal have also contributed to the depletion of emergency reserves.

Even though Bitou Municipality says the power outage will be implemented only when businesses are closed, the effect of load shedding on business is still severer, as thugs may find an opportunity for Theft and burglary.

National Energy Act 34 of 2008 prioritize the facilitation of energy to improve the quality of life of the people of South Africa.

On other hand, Section 73(1)(a) of the MSA states that municipal services must be provided in a manner that is conducive to the prudent, economic, efficient and effective use of available resources.

Plett Tourism CEO Petty Butterworth is adamant that the power outage will not affect the town and its business she said

“We are only now experiencing new power outages. I think it will affect some, but most are already geared-up with alternative forms of electricity”

The CEO believes that the hospitality industry is prepared for challenges, some more than others.

“We don’t foresee this as a problem for future tourists.

Plett Tourism has not experienced any loss due to the power outages. As Africa’s premier beach destination, most visitors are in search of sunshine, healthy air and a healthy lifestyle.

Plett has one of the most moderate climates in the world and our products and services are prepared to pivot around these obstacles .” said the Plett Tourism CEO

According to the Human right resource centre, the human right to work recognizes work as something to which each and every individual is entitled. Since Covid 19 hard hit the town threatening to take that right away, It is good to see that the town is hell-bent on ensuring that the right is not taken away

By Siphokazi Mnyobe