Residents take to streets to protest over electricity
FRUSTRATED Mdantsane residents who have not had electricity and water for the past week, took to the streets and burnt tyres yesterday in a bid to draw attention to their plight.
The Zone 3 community began protesting at the T-junction near the old Ntsikane superstore just after 1pm. When the Daily Dispatch arrived at the scene, more than 100 adults and children were in the streets. Four police vans were on standby nearby.
Resident Andiswa Mlanzi said the drivers of Buffalo City Metro water tanks were being selective about where they distributed water. “We see them pass by delivering water to the shacks, but they skip us and we have to struggle to get our own water.”
Bathandwa Magaxa said it was not the first time they had been without electricity for a week. “I live with my granny who takes medication, and without electricity we can’t cook, therefore she cannot take her medication.”
Anelisa Makunga said a permanent solution had to be found. “We buy [food] then it gets spoiled because the fridges don’t work.”
An upset Kholeka Ndende said the community was being deprived of their basic rights. “Water and electricity are our basic right; if we are being deprived of them for a week, what does that say about our government?”
Zanele Mtati, who lost two of her toes when she was shocked by an electrical wire, said she continued to be a victim of illegal connections. “People in informal settlements are doing wrong things to get electricity and it’s costing us; it cost me my toes and now, though I am a ratepayer, I must suffer in darkness with no water.”
The ward councillor, Zininzi Mtyingizane, confirmed there had been a problem with water supply for the past two weeks. “We have been told that there is a problem with the Amatola reservoirs, and the water has been on and off.”
Mtyingizane said the electricity problem was caused by illegal connections. “Although BCM does come to disconnect illegal connections, the minute they leave, they are reconnected; that is why the residents from four rooms [brick homes] are protesting, because it affects them mostly.” —