Added spark to Zandspruit protests

Siso Naile and Reuven Blignault

Chaos continued on Beyers Naude Road in Johannesburg yesterday as a protest by Zandspruit residents continued for a second day.

Zandspruit women blocked Beyers Naude Drive as they protested against illegal electricity connections, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of three young children, and the nondelivery of formal electricity services on Monday, reports Randburg Sun.

The group of women blocked the busy road with rocks and tyres. Both the police and metro police were on the scene to closely monitor the situation.

“We are tired of these illegal connections. They are dangerous and there have been too many deaths,” said Zandspruit resident Justine Langa.

According to the protesters, three young children were allegedly playing outside during the rainy weekend of October 13 and 14 when they stepped in water which contained a live wire and were electrocuted.

The outcry against the illegal connections started with an appeal to the government to provide the township with safe and formal electricity.

“Unfortunately, we have to use these connections as the government has not given us proper ones. We need electricity to cook and for light but we want the proper thing, which we are willing to pay for, so that us and our children can be safe,” Langa continued.

Police on the scene confirmed that no incidents of violence had been reported and that the protest on Monday was peaceful. Yesterday, however, the situation became more hostile. – Caxton News Service