Power struggle in Thembalethu

Update

GEORGE NEWS - “We want electricity and if we don’t get it, no one in Thembalethu will have power.”

This was the message from angry protesters on Tuesday night after the authorities disconnected illegal electricity connections.

Angry residents from informal settlements in the area where the connections were taken down, started blocking the roads and burned tyres in the roads later that evening.

A truck, municipal electric boxes and several electric poles set alight. It is unclear who the truck belongs to.

Police had to use rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the protesters who in the early hours of yesterday tried to move down Nelson Mandela Boulevard in the direction to Lawaaikamp, where they also burned tyres.

The N2 highway between Pacaltsdorp and the Garden Route Mall, and the entrance to Thembalethu were closed off overnight due to stone throwing until yesterday morning.

The roads in Thembalethu were also littered with bricks and burnt tyres. Part of a paved road leading into Nelson Mandela Boulevard were lifted and the pavers remained strewn across the road.

Police have arrested at least 18 people on charges of public violence.

Yesterday police maintained a high police presence in the area with sporadic incidents of violence still taking place.

Municipal electricity boxes were set alight.

Sgt Chris Spies, the acting Southern Cape police spokesperson, yesterday said the situation is still tense but under control.

“Our public order police (Pops) and members from our local police stations will remain in the area until the situation is defused. It is much calmer today than it was last night,” he said.

Murder in Tabata Street
Spies also confirmed a shooting in Tabata Street around 22:40 on Tuesday night in which a man (34) was killed.

According to information shots were allegedly fired from a vehicle that tried to pass through a group of men blocking Tabata Street. The deceased, a resident from an informal settlement in Zone 6, is believed to have been a mere passer-by who had nothing to do with the unrest. The bullet struck the left side of his body. The deceased’s identity has not been released by the police. Spies said at this stage it is unclear if this incident is related to the protest, but they are investigating the possibility. Police have opened a murder docket.

‘No one will have electricity’
On Tuesday night some protesters were saying they want electricity and if they don’t get it, no one in Thembalethu will have power. The protest led to power failures in some parts of Thembalethu and schools like MM Mateza Primary School were affected. Many learners struggled to get to school and the Thembalethu Thusong Centre was closed yesterday.

George municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose yesterday said Thembalethu had no major power outages, although complete assessment of damage to electrical infrastructure had not taken place yet.

“Electricians are still doing repairs in the Ramaphosa area, where electrical poles were damaged. Repair work is still in process in Parkdene. This is due to damage to a transformer by protesters last night [Tuesday]. The Electrotechnical Directorate expects work to carry on at least for the rest of the day but electricians are doing their best to get the work done as quickly as possible.”

Drive with caution
The municipality said clean-up operations are planned and motorists are asked to exercise caution when driving in the area. “Motorists are urged to take care when driving from the N2 bridge section (Garden Route Mall off-ramp) in the direction towards Thembalethu as the road remains covered in debris. It is suggested that the alternative route via York Street be taken,” added Edwards-Klose.

Electricity is a basic need
Erick Mdaka, a resident of Mandela Village and a community leader, told the George Herald that the protest was triggered by the removal of illegal connections. Mdaka said the George Municipality didn’t consult the residents before removing the illegal connections. “This made people of this area angry as they were not consulted about the municipality’s actions. They came while people were at work and took their cables,” said Mdaka.

Mdaka alleged that there was “some sort of understanding” between the residents and the municipality with regard to illegal connections and that they have allowed them to connect illegal electricity until the electricity issue is resolved.

“No one wants Izinyoka [illegal electricity connections], we just don’t have a choice as electricity is a basic need. We know there have been fatal incidents due to Izinyoka and we are saddened by those incidents, however we don’t have a choice. We have been waiting for a very long time. What we have been receiving from the municipality is empty promises,” said Mdaka.

Mdaka said his community has vowed to continue with the protest until the local government comes and addresses them over the issue. “We are reasonable people, we can adhere to conditions. We just want the municipality to meet us halfway.”

Police on the scene during the unrest.
Removal of illegal connections
On the issue of the municipality removing illegal connections, Edwards-Klose said in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the George Municipality has a responsibility to maintain a safe electrical network and for that reason a service provider was appointed to clear illegal connections.

“Municipal officials are unable to work on, or maintain the network unless all illegal connections on the line have been cleared. The practice of illegal connections is taken seriously by the municipality and the dangers have consistently been re-emphasised to the communities, with such actions having cost the lives of two young children this year alone,” she said.

Edwards-Klose added the municipality is working closely with other law enforcement agencies to resolve the current impasse and condemns all acts of violence.

Protesters vowed to make Thembalethu dark as they burned electricity poles and boxes.