BOPHELONG. – Thursday’s protest by Bophelong residents over electricity cut-offs had a different result to the one residents had intended, because instead of power being reinstated it was cut off to even greater areas.
Marching protesters chanted outside the gates of Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) from 08:00 until the MMC for Infrastructure, Bhekie Ntsele and his officials arrived to address them over the power cuts.
The areas cut off included Bophelong and its extensions, which the residents said has never happened before. Previously Bophelong areas were cut off as well as all CW areas in Vanderbijlpark, however, the CW areas were not cut off this time around.
The popular feeling amongst the residents was that the local government was now lashing back against a recent protest march. Addressing the protesters, Ntsele lamented the fact that many people performed illegal bridging to obtain free electricity.
“Only one out of four transformers is working to feed Bophelong and part of the suburbs,” said Ntsele, who added that due to the demand, short circuits were blacking many areas out.
He appealed to community members to pay for their electricity. Two delegates from the community were taken to a substation and were shown how the transformers were supposed to work.
The community delegation came away dissatisfied.
Community spokesperson, Thokoana Mpholo, complained that most of those who suffer the consequences of electrical blackouts are black people. He said he wants greater equity of blackouts.
“Bonnane for example, is very close to Bophelong yet it is not cut off when Bophelong is.
Thabiso Maphike, one of community members echoed Thokoane’s sentiments. He said black people were literally being kept in the dark, also about the spread of Covid 19 in traditionally black areas.
“People in traditionally white areas should suffer as much as those living in traditionally black areas.”
The community will again gather to strategies a way forward on Sunday 31 May at about 15.00 behind Ikokobetseng Primary school in Bophelong.
