By PHEPHILE MOTAU | 2024-05-09

There was nothing sweet as consumers scrambled for brown sugar, which the Eswatini Sugar Association (ESA) explained as low rationing necessitated by the delay in sugarcane crushing.

The association’s explanation came after concerns that there was a shortage of sugar despite that it is known for its high production of the ‘Eswatini Gold.

The ESA in its 2022/23 annual report stated that sugarcane was grown on approximately 60 000 hectares of land, yielding an average of 680 000 tons of sugar annually, but despite this, consumers were concerned after not finding sugar in some shops in in Mbabane.

A video circulating on social media shows consumers scrambling for sugar, as it was delivered at one of the popular wholesalers in Matsapha.

A supermarket in Mbabane even resolved to open 12.5 kg bags of sugar and repackaged them into smaller bags, which they sold.

The manager, who requested that his identity be withheld, confirmed that they had run out of sugar and that they were expecting some to be delivered as their wholesale had informed them to expect delivery.

However, he said the sugar was being rationed so that it could be available in all their shops.
Another shop owner said sugar was in short supply, and they only got one brand out of the many available brands they usually stock.

Meanwhile, some consumers took to social media to voice out their frustration at the shortage of brown sugar in the shops.

They wondered why shops ran out of sugar as it was produced in the country, pointing out that they started noticing the shortage last week.

Dyson and Lincoln Operations Manager, Muzi Zwane, reportedly said they were currently without sugar, hence the slow operations at the company.

He disclosed that they usually experience similar shortages when there was little productivity at the sugar mills caused by the recent rains.

Rains
Eswatini Sugar Association Chief Executive Officer, Banele Nyamane, explained that heavy rains experienced between March and April had an impact on the crushing processes at the sugar mills, resulting to the evident limited supply to packaging companies and other customers.

He, however, stated that the situation was under control as they had not yet reached a stage where it would affect the consumers.

The ESA explained that while stock volumes of brown sugar were affected by the delay in sugarcane crushing as a result of wet weather conditions, sugar did remain available in most stores.

“The projected low stocks were communicated to our bulk sugar customers, who re-pack for retail purposes to allow for them to plan for store availability accordingly,” the organisation stated.

The ESA further assured consumers that there had not been a shortage of brown sugar but simply rationing necessitated by the delay in sugarcane crushing.

The company said the crushing season had commenced and more brown sugar stocks were now available.

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