Pretoria - Eskom’s load shedding has led to the closure of one of the biggest ice cream and sweet dealers in Centurion, with the shop set to close its doors in the new year.
Centurion Ice Cream & Sweet Shop owner Charles Meeser said he was forced to close his business, which has been in existence for 27 years in Bronberrick, Centurion. Load shedding simply got the upper hand over him, he said.
“The costs of electricity and load shedding have pushed the business running costs completely out of proportion and that is why the business is not viable anymore.
“The shop has been my life for 27 years. I am known as ‘Ice Cream Man’, and that is no more because of factors beyond my control.
“I’ve had people from all walks of life coming to see me, from pastors and residents, to investors. I have mixed emotions; the response I got from the people surprised me.
“I don’t think we ever realised the love people had for the shop and the impact we had on the community,” said Meeser.
Their biggest market was school tuck shops, but due to load shedding these ended up not buying the ice cream anymore. The shop is known for making its own range of ice cream and sugar-free ice cream, as well as organising children’s parties.
Once a month, it hosted a blood donor drive, where people who donated blood got a pack of sweets and ice cream. The blood drive will continue after the closure of the shop.
Staff member Bongani Sindane, who has worked at the shop since 2014, said: “I didn’t know anything about the job, but I got to learn a lot of things and improve as an employee. It feels painful that the shop is closing because it has become my second home, but one has to understand and accept the reality. It’s not by choice.”
Pretoria News