The Tembisa Community Forum (TCF) has released an official demand statement to the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) following Monday’s shutdown in the township.

On February 23, large parts of Tembisa were brought to a standstill as residents halted business operations and blocked roads in protest against electricity disconnections, pre-termination notices and concerns surrounding the City’s indigent policy.

In a statement, the undersigned members of the Tembisa Community Forum and affected residents called for what they described as “urgent and principled action” from the City.

Also read: Electricity disconnection row sparks Thembisa protest

The community’s key demands include:

1. Immediate restoration of electricity
The Forum is calling for electricity to be switched back on for all residents registered under the deemed indigent and indigent programmes without delay. The TCF argues that access to electricity is a basic right and should not be withheld from vulnerable households.

2. Review of the indigent policy
The Forum is demanding a transparent and participatory review of the City’s current indigent policy. According to the statement, the policy must reflect fairness, dignity and the lived realities of residents to ensure that no qualifying household is excluded from essential services.

3. Scrapping of debts and notices
The TCF further calls for the cancellation of all existing debts and notices issued to residents registered under the deemed indigent and indigent programmes. The Forum maintains that these debts place an unjust burden on households already recognised as indigent and that their removal is necessary to restore trust.

The demand statement forms the basis of the protest action that resulted in the shutdown. Further engagements between community representatives and the City are expected.