Disgruntled residents yesterday took to the Kwa-Thema Customer Care Centre (CCC) offices in Springs, Ekurhuleni, to express their frustrations due to a delay in restoring power to their respective areas.

They blocked streets with rocks and refuse and reportedly looted local shops. The angry mob forced entry into the CCC offices, where they vandalised and set two municipal cars on fire.

This is after the power was not restored as promised by the MMC for Water, Sanitation, and Energy, Leshaka Manamela, on Monday.

As it stands, only a few sections of the township have been reconnected, with some sections reconnected to the Monareng substation two weeks ago.

Three weeks ago, the metro decided to reconnect the community through the Vulcania substation in Brakpan. The transformer at the Kwa-Thema main substation burned down on May 11, leaving the township in the dark.

Ward 78 councillor Sizwe Nhleko says the department of energy made commitments to restore power, but they failed over the weeks.

“The residents are now tired and believe the metro is playing games. Yesterday the engineers tried to load more areas, but the system couldn’t take the load,” he says.

A member of the community, Tshepo Mowelase, says they will protest until the rest of Kwa-Thema is reconnected.

“We are tired of their empty promises. We have been patient with the mayor and his MMCs, who feed us lies. We want the power restored,” he adds.

Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini says: “This is rather regrettable because no amount of vandalism and destruction of property can solve any problem. In fact, such acts worsen situations.

“The last time the walk-in centre was vandalised, the very same community had to go to Springs to transact and/or do any business with the city,” he adds.

Kwa-Thema police spokesperson Constable Nkululeko Magudulela confirmed that a few residents were arrested for public violence and are due to appear in court soon.