The mental health impact of loadshedding on small-business owners in Alexandra township, Gauteng

The study reported in this article used a qualitative research design to explore the mental health impact of loadshedding on small-business owners in Alexandra township, Gauteng. This exploratory study involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with small-business owners during the height of the loadshedding crisis in 2023. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Several themes were identified, suggesting that loadshedding adversely affected small-business owners, disrupting workflows, creating economic challenges, and provoking various psychological effects at different ecosystemic levels. Participants reported anxiety, stress, frustration, and feelings of helplessness, influencing their psychological well-being. Systemic repercussions included the economic and psychological effects of loadshedding on their families, employees, and the broader community. The combination of these psychological challenges and the lingering effects of the post-COVID-19 economic climate has deepened the vulnerability of small-business owners, hindering their recovery efforts. The study calls for assessing the availability and effectiveness of support mechanisms, including governmental interventions, for small-business owners facing the challenges of unreliable energy supply, given the negative psychological consequences