VANDERBIJLPARK – Chaos erupted on Monday evening, March 16, when dozens of gatvol residents took to the streets to protest against ongoing electricity outages.

For nearly a month, neighbourhoods including Vanderbijlpark, Bophelong, and Bonane have been left in the dark following a fire at the Curie Boulevard substation. While the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) and Eskom have restored power to some areas, many families are still without electricity.

Furious residents from CW5 barricaded roads in the Stephenson area using burning tyres, rocks, and debris. The protest turned violent as police moved in to monitor the crowds.

Officers fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the demonstrators, sending people running for cover. Several clashes were reported between protesters, police, and passing motorists.

Speaking to Ster, Lerato Mofokeng, a resident in the area, said, “We are running out of money because we have to buy food daily. Some people don’t have money to buy gas, candles, or paraffin. If we don’t protest, the municipality will continue to drag its feet,” she said.

ELM spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni said the municipality is unaware of the protest, but confirmed teams are working to expand distribution to all areas.

“Teams are working on emergency repairs at Town Substation. Power supply to consumers at CW Areas, Bophelong Extensions, and parts of NW 7 will be shut down today from 10:00 – 13:00. No guarantee can be given that the supply will remain off for the duration of the interruption. Affected customers are advised to always treat all electrical circuits and appliances as Live. We apologise for the inconvenience,” he said.