Alexandra burns as City Power removes illegal connections
ANGRY protesters in Alexandra barricaded London Road with rocks and burning tyres yesterday where power utility City Power once again embarked on an operation to remove illegal electricity connections.
The power utility conducted an operation to cut off illegal connections in Alexandra, with a focus on River Park, and the informal settlements along London Road.
This comes months after City Power was forced to abandon an operation to remove illegal connections, fearing for the safety of their employees in the area after residents protested in February this year.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the illegal connections were causing an overload on the network, resulting in many residents paying for damages to their TVs and refrigerators.
“An electricity box which is installed by City Power can only cater for about 10 households, but informal settlements are set up across the community, resulting in more than 50 people depending on one electricity box and resulting in either the explosion of power boxes or damages to appliances,” explained Mangena.
After illegal connections were disconnected and wires removed, residents started throwing stones and burning tires to prevent officials from doing their job. The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) who formed part of the operation then opened fire on protesters by shooting rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
Simangele Khulakade, a community member in River Park, said she had been running a business from her home for the past month and didn’t know how she would earn an income now that her electricity had been disconnected.
“A promise was made by City Power’s spokesperson in which he promised that he will not disconnect the electricity after this has happened five times already. Today they are here disconnecting the electricity. We have been lied to,” exclaimed Khulakade.
Another resident, Godfrey Phalame expressed his frustration towards the power utility and said that he would be among those who withheld their vote in this year’s local government elections.
“We have been living here for the past three years, and according to City Power, we are on a database and we should receive electricity, but this does not happen. We are willing to pay for electricity, but the elongated process is the result of illegal connections in this area,” said Phalame.
In Mangena’s defence, he said he told the residents that they would not disconnect the electricity on “that day”. This was because the power utility had to wait for engagements with the City to conclude before disconnecting the illegal electricity connections.
Meanwhile, it was reported late yesterday that one person was killed in a clash between Alexandra residents and security officials at Alex Mall.