Community strike for power

STEELPOORT – The trend of blocking roads in Tubatse has resumed again. This time the communities of Kutollo and Ga Masha blockaded the R555 road and the steel bridge that leads to Jane Furse, demanding electricity.

The unfortunate incidents happened on the morning of February 10. Residents also intercepted two trucks from Ngulula Bulk Carriers (NBC) and forced them to offload chrome on the busy road.

School children and workers, mostly from the local mines, were left stranded as there was no transport.

According to the residents, the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) promised them electricity in December last year and to this day nothing had been done.

“They promised to electrify our houses last year, but still today we are waiting in vain. They delivered the poles but they are now taking them back. We don’t think we will ever have electricity,” one angry protester said.

The villagers said they would continue to block the roads to vent their frustration. “We think they will understand if we block the roads, we arranged a meeting with the two mayors, Mr Ralepane Mamekoa of GTM and Mr David Magabe of Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM), hopefully they will give us a solution,” Solomon Tjie, a resident, said.

Sekhukhune police spokesman, Sgt Dithomo Kgaphola said the police were still monitoring the situation.

“Approximately 600 residents from the Kutollo and Ga Masha villages blockaded the road. No arrests were made and no injuries were reported,” Kgaphola said. Sekhukhune police used warning shots to disperse the crowd. Some protesters sought shelter, hiding in the nearby bushes and mountains.

GTM spokesman Mr Thabiso Mokoena, confirmed to the paper that he knew of the protest. “We sent a delegation to the area, more information will be revealed after their discussions with the communities.”