Angry residents demand illegal electricity connections reinstalled
Tsakane - More than 500 angry residents of Langaville blocked main roads in the area, demanding that their illegal electricity connections be re-installed.
Two weeks ago, after blocking roads, the residents delivered a memorandum to the Ekurhuleni municipal council, stating their concerns.
They demanded a response within seven days, but this has not happened.
They decided to take to the streets again this week.
• Read: Angry residents demand jobs, burns post office and Duduza Multipurpose Centre
They threw stones at passing cars, burned tyres and refused for any vehicle to enter or leave the area.
Concerned resident, Lindiwe Mdau, says they will continue with the protest until their electricity is re-installed.
“How do they expect us to continue living in the dark? We need our electricity back immediately or there will never be peace in the area.
“We are tired of the government promising us services and not delivering.
“We will take the law into our own hands if it gets to that point,” he says.
• Also read: Residents go on the rampage
EMPD spokesman Clifford Shongwe says businesses in the area were looted during the protest.
“The protest was joined by criminals who targeted businesses in the area, but the police acted swiftly to stop them.
“They also tried to spread their illegal actions to Tsakane Mall, but the police acted swiftly,” he says.
Shongwe says a 35-year-old man was arrested for discharging a 9mm firearm.
“The firearm was verified and found to be unlicensed and had one live round in the magazine.
“The suspect was detained at Tsakane police station and was expected to appear in court soon,” he says.
Tsakane police spokeswoman Sergeant Lerato Mongomezulu says 10 suspects were arrested in connection with public violence. “The group will appear in court soon. No injuries were reported,” she says.
