Tsakani residents take to streets over prolonged electricity outages
Residents of Ward 112 took to the streets on August 17, demanding urgent intervention over prolonged electricity outages affecting several areas in Tsakani.
Tsakani – Frustration over prolonged electricity outages in Ward 112 boiled over into protests as residents took to the streets demanding urgent intervention to restore a reliable electricity supply in the area on August 17.
According to EFF councillor candidate Mpho Mpepe, several streets and sections of Tsakani have been affected by electricity problems, leaving residents without a consistent power supply.
Mpepe said the electricity challenges were linked to ongoing infrastructure problems, including damaged cables, transformer failures and incidents involving electrical infrastructure.
He alleged that Eskom representatives claimed that a car had crashed into electricity poles in Tsakani Ext 11 near Plus Ground, damaging infrastructure and affecting cables and the substation, further worsening the situation.
Residents have reportedly experienced repeated outages, with some areas going without electricity for extended periods.
“Thubelisha Phase 1 has not had electricity for the past five months. The normalisation process was implemented and completed but without change.
“Ext 11, Shakwane Street has also been struck by the same issue for the past two weeks,” he explained.
He further explained that Sontweni Street experienced a transformer burnout two weeks ago and has not had electricity since.
Mpepe said Eskom was in the process of installing a new transformer in Thubelisha last Tuesday, but due to the rainy weather, the installation had to be put on hold.
“That frustrated residents even more,” he said.
The electricity crisis prompted community members to take their frustrations to the streets, calling for authorities to address the problem and provide a lasting solution rather than temporary repairs.
The situation escalated during the protest along Heidelberg Road (R23), where about 10 people were reportedly injured.
“Two people were also arrested but were later released,” he added.
Mpepe alleged that members of the SAPS and EMPD opened fire on the protesting crowd. The protests have renewed concerns about the state of electricity infrastructure in Tsakani, with residents calling for proper maintenance and investment in the network.
Mpepe said the community needs reliable electricity and that authorities should engage residents directly about the challenges affecting the area.
He also raised concerns about ageing infrastructure, damaged cables and repeated transformer failures, which he stated contribute to frequent outages.
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The community is now calling on Eskom and relevant authorities to urgently intervene, repair damaged infrastructure and provide a sustainable solution to the electricity crisis.
Thabang Thage, a resident of Thubelisha Ext 8 who has lived in the area since 2004, said residents had not experienced electricity problems of this magnitude before.
Thage said the recent electricity problems began about two weeks ago, with the power going out at about 18:00 and returning only between 21:00 and 22:00.
He said the situation had since deteriorated, with parts of Thubelisha Ext 8 and Phase 2 having been without electricity for four days.
“I am so worried about Thubelisha Phase 1. It has been five months without electricity, and there are grandparents who are staying there and children who need to eat, bathe and go to school,” he said.
Thage said the outages were also affecting residents who rely on chronic medication that requires proper storage and regular use.
“It is so bad to see an old lady crying to get warm, especially as we come from that cold weather. It was so bad and hurting,” he said.
According to Thage, residents repeatedly contacted Eskom and were promised that the electricity problems would be resolved, but he said little changed.
He cited that residents also approached their community leaders, including Mpepe, who he said took the initiative to engage Eskom and seek answers about the outages.
Thage claimed residents were told that electricity would be restored for a few hours before being switched off again.
He further alleged that residents had heard claims that the outages were the result of sabotage involving an unnamed political official.
EMPD spokesperson Kelebogile Thipa said the protest originated on August 15, at about 13:00, when the first reports were received of roads being closed with burning tyres and other obstructions in and around Tsakani.
“Officers attended to it, and it was confirmed that the issue was that the electricity in the area had been off since the previous day,” said Thepa.
She said the electricity issue was identified as an Eskom supply matter and that Eskom would be called to the affected sites to resolve the problem.
The protest continued into August 16, with more roads being obstructed, before escalating on August 17, when the R23 Heidelberg Road was also obstructed and completely closed to normal traffic.
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“EMPD FRU officers were summoned to work in conjunction with the SAPS POPS Unit,” she said.
Responding to allegations that police opened fire on protesters, Thepa said the EMPD only uses rubber bullets during protests.
“When we speak about ammunition, it is only rubber bullets that are used in any protest,” she said.
Thepa said no injuries were reported on the EMPD side.
“From the EMPD side, no injuries were reported, unless from Tsakane SAPS,” she added.
Regarding arrests, Thepa said the EMPD was unaware of any arrests during the protest, adding that protesters had run away.
Thepa also said no EMPD officers were reported injured or assaulted during the incident and that, to their knowledge, no cases involving EMPD officers had been reported.
Regarding allegations of excessive or unlawful use of force, Thepa said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) would become involved should any discrepancies be identified.
“Should there be any discrepancy, IPID will be on scene and further investigations will resume on their side,” she said.
An enquiry has been sent to Eskom, the ward councillor and IPID.
