Reiger Park community protest against constant power outages

There are unconfirmed reports that the latest power disruption led to the death of a resident, who used a ventilator connected to an oxygen tank. Due to the power outage, the ventilator apparently stopped working.

Recent protest action in Reiger Park.

Residents of Reiger Park blocked several streets in the township on September 26, burning tyres and rocks in protest against the constant power outages caused by cable and electricity theft in the township.

The community told the Advertiser that cable thieves relentlessly go about their disruptive business of stealing power cables on a regular basis, plunging several parts of the township into darkness.

Protesters want a high degree of government intervention in the electricity crisis faced by the community.

They demanded that authorities intensify their war against the scourge of power and cable theft as well as electricity theft.

Quinton Adolph and Ward councillor Charlie Crawford are among the community members who expressed dissatisfaction and frustrations with the way the municipality is dealing with the power problems in the area.

They said the cable theft has become a menace to the well-being of residents and the township economy.

“The metro spends millions of rand on a security company contracted to safeguard the infrastructure from theft, yet thieves still continuously help themselves to the power cable,”said Adolph.

“People in all the nearby informal settlements are connecting electricity illegally, and the ANC-led government is turning a blind eye because they are afraid that those people will not vote for them if they disconnect their illegal connections.

“The mayor promised to electrify all the informal settlement, but has failed to deliver on his promises. “People then decided to connect themselves causing mounting pressure on the power infrastructure, which then continuously plunge us into darkness.

“We are now forced to suffer and pay for these empty promises and government’s incompetence,” said Adolph.

The Advertiser is still waiting for a comment from the metro.