Residents clash over electricity
Informal settlements residents clash over electricity issues in KwaThema.
KwaThema – It is alleged that in the early hours of Monday morning, the community of Lindelani Informal Settlement invaded the Ekuthuleni Informal Settlement in KwaThema.
According to councillor Matshepo Kodisang of the Democratic Alliance, the reason for the invasion was the electrification received by Ekuthuleni Informal Settlement.
The DA claims the Lindelani community members are demanding that they too should receive electricity.
“They have barricaded all entrances into Ekuthuleni and are looting local shops in the area.
“In the previous term when the issue of electrification was proposed to both informal settlements, the community of Lindelani rejected the proposition and protested against it.
“The protest action led to the burning of a community leader’s shack.
“But now that the electrification project has been successfully completed and implemented in Ekuthuleni, the Lindelani community is up in arms, demanding a piece of that pie too,” she says.
Kodisang adds that their frustration is that “instead of protesting in their own informal settlement, the Lindelani community is protesting in Ekuthuleni and terrorising the community”.
Most of the residents of Ekuthuleni community are under forced ‘house arrest’.
“Parents have not gone to work and children have not gone to school because of fear, as the Lindelani community is notorious for their violent protests.
“There is currently a weak police presence in the area and not much has been done to reassure the community or mitigate the risks of violence ensuing.
“The EMPD has been alerted and we are hoping to see better police presence,” she adds.
The DA in Ekurhuleni condemns this irrational behaviour by the Lindelani residents as they are currently holding the community of Ekuthuleni hostage.
They say the bullying and intimidation of innocent residents is uncalled for.
“Their anger is currently misdirected and they need to direct and escalate their concerns to the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).
“We are calling for a peaceful protest and urging the CoE to deal with issue as a matter of urgency and priority.”
