Update
GEORGE NEWS - The protest over the removal of illegal electricity connections in Thembalethu that took local authorities by surprise on Tuesday 26 November, will cost the George Municipality an estimated R300 000.
On the evening of Tuesday 26 November, angry residents from informal settlements in the area where the connections were taken down, started blocking the roads and burning tyres in the roads.
A truck, municipal electric boxes and several electricity poles were set alight.
The protest continued until Wednesday 27 November. In the early hours police had to use rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the protesters who had moved down Nelson Mandela Boulevard into Lawaaikamp, where they were also burning tyres.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies confirmed last week Friday that a total of 18 suspects were arrested and that five of them were later released. "The other thirteen suspects, aged between 18 and 33, appeared in the Thembalethu Magistrate's Court on Friday 29 November. They are facing charges of malicious damage to property," said Spies.
He said more charges could be added as the investigation unfolds.
Acting Municipal Manager Reggy Wesso said in a media statement that the municipality has not met with the protesters, who are illegal users of electricity, after last week's protest. "But on numerous occasions in the past we have met with these communities in coordination with the municipality's Directorate of Human Settlements.
"The municipality has, however, been in discussion with the legal users of electricity who have been negatively affected by the illegal activities," he said.
Wesso said that the municipality remains committed to providing legal and safe electricity to all communities, but safety remains paramount and the municipality cannot condone or facilitate illegal use by switching on lines that are being illegally tapped.
He also confirmed that total damages to infrastructure during the protest is estimated at R300 000 and that two transformers and two kiosks were damaged.
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