Protest on R50 in Standerton signals anger at load-shedding

The combination of municipal load-shedding and Eskom’s load-shedding have residents hot under the collar and Friday, July 8 was no exception.

A group of protestors barricaded the R50 Road near the Elm Tree-turn-off with stones and burnt tyres.

Security guards were on the scene.

A frustrated employee of Gauteng EMS, who wished to remain anonymous, was trying his best to get to Pretoria.

“I understand their frustration, but they are now making their problem, my problem,” the paramedic said.

Notwithstanding some reasoning, he had to turn back.

The Standerton Advertiser was accompanied by Kasselman Security Services last Friday.

This busy route has trucks from Goldi having to use the road, of which the production cost of not delivering chickens to their farm, surely has to be taken into account.

Another anxiety was that the protestors could resort to burning down the veld next to the road.

When leaving the R50 at 10:30, two police vehicles drove past and another one from the K9-unit shortly thereafter.

According to a trusted source, police were informed about the protest just after 8:00.

Damage to the road surface because of burning tyres has to be considered.

Load-shedding has an adverse affect on every single aspect in society.

From the small business owner, who can not afford a generator and balks at the price of petrol and diesel, to the established bigger concern that staggers under the fiscal weight of having to budget now, for at least the following two months, on running a generator intermittently.

Coming now to the man in the street, who arrives at a dark and cold home, with no water in the taps.

The working mother has her hands full with water supply interrupted as well.

Standerton’s Ward 7 residents are planning a community march to the Lekwa Municipality on Wednesday, July 13.

The march will begin at Thuto-Thebe Secondary School at 8:00.