A potential protest by informal settlers was prevented on 6 and 7 September after City Power deliberately disrupted the power supply to Bloubosrand informal settlement due to illegal connections.
Ward 96 councillor, Matome Mofokwane, assured community members that the situation was being monitored.
Members of Bloubosrand informal settlement threatened protest action on 4 September after City Power cut the electricity flow to the tall mast lights which light the settlement at night. The situation was, however, kept under control and the protest did not take place.
It was cut because it was established that more than 300 shacks run illegal connections from these mast lights in order to access electricity, for which they do not pay.
On 5 September, Mofokwane stated that the situation is still tense and he fears tensions may flare over the following weekend. “We’re not out of the woods as yet,” he said.
“I would prefer to negotiate with these settlers in a peaceful manner, but under no circumstances, will I condone criminal activity.”
City Power conducted a full ‘sweep’ of the settlement to clear most, if not all, illegal connections from 4 to 9 September before they would allow power to return to the mast lights.
City Power has been approached for comment, but could not provide the results of the ‘sweep’ at the time of going to print.
