Fire in the streets
... as Ezibeleni residents protest ongoing power outages
EZIBELENI was left reeling this week as residents’ frustration with ongoing power cuts and service delivery challenges boiled over.
Streets were blocked with burning tyres from Tuesday night and the shops of foreign spaza shop owners looted on Wednesday during protests.
Police kept watch over the situation as groups took to the streets, burning tyres and branches following months of lengthy power outages and concern over other service delivery issues.
The vehicle of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) executive mayor Lindiwe Gunuza Nkwentsha was believed to have been damaged after stones were thrown at a municipal group visiting the area.
Police spokesman Captain Namhla Mdleleni confirmed that 15 people had been arrested on charges of tampering with infrastructure and looting. A charge of attempted murder was also being investigated but the details thereof were not known.
Mdleleni confirmed that police had fired rubber bullets in an attempt to calm down the situation yesterday. Police continued to monitor Ezibeleni yesterday and it was “calm” during mid-morning.
During a visit by The Rep to the area on Wednesday evening, spaza shop owners Sam Tosfosso and Albera Dindo were found trying to clean up the store.
Dindo said his shop was emptied out by angry residents who gained entry through the roof.
“I had just added stock and they took everything. They have taken our money and products.”
He said foreign nationals were living in fear. “This is no longer about electricity, the people are just taking advantage, this is xenophobia. The police came, but they did not do anything to help us.”
A spaza owner who did not want to be named said residents were making threats that they would continue with the looting. “We are trying to gather our brothers so we can all be in one place. We are scared and we do not know what is going to happen to us.”
The shops remained closed yesterday with several being completely empty.
On Wednesday morning, residents had blocked roads leading to Komani with burning tyres, resulting in traffic congestion. Scores of people, including pupils, were late for work and school.
A resident, Lolo Zingitwa, who attended a meeting to listen to the mayor, claimed a rubber bullet hit her in the leg. She claimed police had pushed and slapped people and that people had then “fought back” resulting in rubber bullets being fired at them.
“They did not stop shooting, even when people were running away.”
Zingitwa received an injection for pain, she said. Claims that a man was shot with a live round and taken to Frontier Hospital could not be proven at the time of going to press.
Resident Zukisani Malafu said the municipality was failing the people of the area. “We are not from any political party, but irritated residents of Ezibeleni who are tired of the empty promises and poor service delivery from the municipality.”
He said Ezibeleni was plagued by power outages. “We managed to get two of the ward councillors to be present when the local executive mayor came to address us. It was a waste of our time, because what she said did not make sense and we were not given a chance to voice our dissatisfaction.”
His words were echoed by Xolani Ngxathu who said that the municipality had failed to communicate with the residents. “This started last year. We had a problem with the electricity in December and we endured without any announcements from the municipality about what was happening. After realising that nothing was happening we mobilised the people.”
Ngxatu said Gunuza Nkwentsha had arrived for a meeting with the residents on Tuesday evening, but failed to answer their grievances. “We want to know why they do not communicate with us because this is a big township and we do not like protesting.
“She left without answering our questions. She said she was not an electrician. If they had announced this, it would not have happened.
“I have been here since 1974 and there is no development in Ezibeleni. We are prepared to do whatever we must. We have been silent for the past three years but now we want attention.”
The Rep reported (“We will repair it,” April 28) that the municipality was finalising a business plan to ensure access to funds set aside by the provincial treasury to deal with the electrical challenges plaguing the local authority.
EMLM spokesman Fundile Feketshane said yesterday the latest power outage, which has been ongoing since Sunday, was owing to an array of reasons. One of these was that the power was tripping following an overload of the network, plus cable faults.
“As the municipality we moved quickly to try and resolve the problem and fortunately power was restored yesterday evening. We wish to thank the ward councillors, ward committees and the electrical staff who worked tirelessly to bring about a solution.”
He said EMLM had hired professional companies tasked with the maintenance of power stations, robots and street lighting. The company was already working, with an action plan to be published shortly. “This will ensure that any faults detected shall be attended to immediately.”
He said the mayor was asking everyone to engage in dialogues to resolve challenges. “The turn of events on the N6 where communities stoned police and passing vehicles is regrettable and must be condemned.”
The municipality was partnering with the police, Eskom and other stakeholders to deal with electrical losses with Feketshane warning that “anyone found to be stealing electricity shall be dealt with according to the applicable laws.”
Residents were encouraged to talk to the local authority about electrical challenges. “The executive mayor is committed in ensuring that the municipality is responsive and takes note of the challenges that face our people. Our [task] is to provide services in a sustainable manner and to ensure that there is social cohesion and stability...”