KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Thulasizwe Buthelezi visited Mondlo on Friday, following days of unrest sparked by ongoing protests.
Residents used the opportunity to air their grievances, raising serious concerns about daily electricity outages that occur between 05:00 and 09:00 in the mornings, and again during peak evening hours. They said the disruptions have severely affected households, businesses and essential services.

Community members also expressed dissatisfaction with broader service delivery, demanding urgent improvements. Many insisted that electricity supply should be transferred from AbaQulusi Local Municipality to Eskom, arguing that the current arrangement is costly and inefficient. Some residents further questioned the high price of electricity units, saying the cost has become unaffordable.
Addressing the crowd, Buthelezi acknowledged the community’s frustrations and admitted that the manner in which AbaQulusi Local Municipality implemented the electricity cuts could have been handled better. He stressed that such decisions should not be taken without consulting the affected communities, so as not to undermine transparency and participatory governance.

The MEC announced that he will convene an urgent meeting with the leadership of AbaQulusi Local Municipality and Eskom to come up with sustainable solutions that directly address residents’ concerns.
However, Buthelezi condemned the violence during the protests, including the torching of the municipal offices, and appealed to residents to respect the law at all times.

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.