St Lucia business owners say govt has failed to give area the necessary support

DURBAN - In St Lucia, some who survive solely on business opportunities in the small tourist town have told Eyewitness News that the government has failed to give the area sufficient support.

Businesses in the area were hit hard by COVID-19 in 2020, and some are still struggling to find their footing.

Eyewitness News is crisscrossing all of the country’s provinces, speaking to South Africans as they reflect on 30 years of democracy and prepare to cast their votes in the upcoming general elections.

Small as it is, St Lucia is a hive of activity, a town that comes alive as vendors ply their trade alongside its one and only major in route.

Some are selling traditional garb and artwork, including sculptures, are on display, meanwhile, restaurants and shops are bustling as patrons and shoppers make their way around.

And while it looks like a thriving market, some businesses are on their knees and hoping to get assistance to stay afloat.

Roberto Fiero, who’s run his restaurant for 13 years, said that load shedding was killing his business.

"And for whatever reason we’ve got the highest load shedding schedules in the country. there are times where we have 10 or 12 hours a day, yet places like Durban have it for 2 hours in a day."

Meanwhile, a businesswoman selling sculptures just down the road from Fiero’s restaurant said trade had not been going well.

"We are not doing great, customers and tourists come and go, they don’t even buy - we at times leave here without having sold a single item."

The stagnant economy and the energy crisis are among the many issues politicians have been promising to resolve when the country goes to the polls in May.