The sporadic outbursts of electricity-related violence in Reiger Park has prompted the police to intensify its visibility patrol in the identified hot spots to arrest the perpetrators.
The violence reportedly started on July 24 after residents of Ramaphosa, who had been left without power for over a week after their transformer exploded due to overload, decided to take matters into their own hands.
According to information gathered, the paying and legally connected residents took it upon themselves to remove all the illegal electricity connections said to be the cause of the explosion of the transformer.
This move, however, angered some of the residents in the surrounding informal settlements, who after clashing with the legally connected residents, reportedly took to the streets and blockaded Elsburg Road and Commissioner Street with bricks, poles, burning tyres and other objects in protest against the disconnections.
Two of the EMPD officers who responded to the protest were attacked and sustained head injuries. One of the officers was reportedly kidnapped by the angry mob and later released.
Six people, aged between 25 and 33, were arrested and charged with public violence, kidnapping, attempted murder and causing malicious damage to property.
Properties, including a school and a church, were torched in Reiger Park in sporadic outbursts of electricity and service delivery protests on Tuesday and Wednesday. According to the Reiger Park police, both the school and church were allegedly petrol bombed by residents of Joe Slovo informal settlement in protest against the removal of their illegal power supply, and lack of services in their area.
The Reiger Park police said a decision had been taken to intensify police visibility in the identified hot spots to stop the rioters from causing further damage. Members of the SAPS and EMPD have been watching the areas and said they were ready to deal with violent and unruly people engaging in violence.
Also Read: Watch: Protesting Joe Slovo community tired of lack of services
Also Read: Reiger Park school, church torched in power protest
