Once again, the Ekurhuleni council chamber was visited by frustrated residents during its council sitting last Thursday.

Residents from Leondale, Roodekop Ext 31 and Buhle Park gathered outside the council chamber during an extraordinary council meeting, demanding urgent intervention over persistent power outages affecting their communities.

According to the community, this is not the first time they have delivered a memorandum over the same issue.

ALSO READ: R550 closed due to protest action in Katlehong

In May 2025, they carried out a similar protest, demanding that the power crisis be addressed, but their cries are said to have fallen on deaf ears.

Residents said they are tired of the worsening electricity crisis, which continues to disrupt daily life and threaten livelihoods.

They alleged that for years, households in wards 40, 41, 94 and 95 have endured frequent and prolonged power outages.

What has heightened frustration is that these outages are often unscheduled, poorly communicated and increasingly predictable, occurring late at night, over weekends and at critical times during the month.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Germiston residents protest outside council over ongoing electricity crisis

Community members say repeated attempts to report faults and engage with the City of Ekurhuleni have yielded little to no improvement.

Despite numerous complaints and formal submissions, the electricity supply remains unstable, with no clear long-term solution in sight.

“We are tired as residents. The economy is already unfriendly to the middle class, and now we also have to stretch our budgets in case there is no electricity.

“It is costing us money because we know that during public holidays, early in the month and towards the end of the month, we are not going to have power,” said Tibatso Moloi.

Residents said the impact has been severe, ranging from damaged appliances due to power surges and food spoilage to the inability to work from home, placing additional financial strain on already struggling households.

Vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those reliant on medical equipment, face serious risks during outages.

ALSO READ: Protest action brings traffic to a standstill on N3 near Leondale

Beyond household disruptions, the outages have also contributed to rising safety concerns.

Dark streets caused by non-functioning street lights have made communities more vulnerable to crime, further eroding residents’ sense of security.

Residents have also raised concerns about the municipality’s lack of communication and accountability.

Many say they are left in the dark, both literally and figuratively, receiving little to no updates during outages.

In some cases, residents claim their efforts to seek answers have been ignored or dismissed, deepening frustration and mistrust in local leadership.

“Why should we suffer like this when we are paying for our services? It feels like we are being punished for something we do not understand. We pay our rates and taxes, but we are not reaping the benefits,” said Moloi.

Questions are now being asked about the state of infrastructure and whether surrounding developments have placed additional strain on the electricity network.

Community members are calling for transparency on maintenance plans, infrastructure upgrades and how public funds allocated to these projects have been used.

The residents further demanded urgent intervention, including faster response times to outages, dedicated technical teams and clear communication channels.

They are also calling for a public engagement with municipal leaders to provide answers and outline a concrete plan to stabilise the electricity supply.

The memorandum was handed over to the MMC for Community Services and Bylaw Enforcement, Siyabonga Moloi, who promised to engage with the relevant departments and the mayor to find a way forward and respond within 30 days.