Protesters vandalise local clubhouse again

A protest over the disconnection of illegal electricity connections in Joe Slovo and Kalamazoo informal settlements has led to the vandalism of the East Rand United Clubhouse at the Reiger Park Sports Arena.

This came after the City of Ekurhuleni reportedly embarked on operations to cut off illegal connections in the informal settlement on the morning of September 22. Information gathered suggests that after the operation, residents of the two areas, who were angered by the disconnections of their illicit power supply connections, started protesting.

They barricaded the streets, preventing vehicles from entering and leaving the area, and reportedly attacked the clubhouse. They reportedly pelted rocks, which damaged the windows, and threatened to return to the facility to burn it down.

The building was also attacked late in 2019 when a group of protesters reportedly entered the building and stole its contents before setting it alight. In 2020, a group of protesters also attempted to set the clubhouse alight, but the police managed to contain the situation. At that time, others had already force opened the doors and started to help themselves to some of the contents before being stopped by the metro police who retrieved some of the items stolen from the clubhouse in the informal settlement.

According to a resident who asked not to be named, the protest started immediately after red ants invaded the area in the morning and cut off illegally connected electricity cables. Residents blocked Elsburg Road and Commissioner Street with bricks and burning tyres in protest against the disconnections.

Also Read: Watch: East Rand United clubhouse up-and-running

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