Police on high alert for possible protest action at Eskom Megawatt Park
SUNNINGHILL – The reported planned protest action seems to have not materialised, with St Peter's College closing its doors for the day.
Some reports suggested on 6 August of a planned protest action by some Ivory Park community members against Eskom’s service delivery in the area.
Ivory park has had network problems in the area with some parts having on and off power. Eskom has been planning to repair damaged transformers but this has been halted by some community members who blocked access for them to do their work.
Community members were planning to protest outside Eskom Megawatt Park offices in Sunninghill.
Motlhabane Ramashi, operations and maintenance senior manager in the Gauteng Operating Unit said, “We would like to urge the community of Ivory Park to collaborate with Eskom to adequately deal with this matter by allowing us access to the area so that we can conduct audits, remove illegal connections, disconnect bypassed meters and issue fines for the contraventions. The intention for the preceding activities is to avoid the repeat of damage to the equipment and electricity network.”
Deputy spokesperson for Eskom, Dikatso Mothae said the planned protest action at Megawatt Park did not materialise, “It may still be coming.”
St Peter’s College whose premises are close to the Eskom office’s decided to shut their doors for the day, headmaster Rui Morais said they received information from a local community forum of a planned protest action a day before. “We have had numerous protests in the past and they have been small and relatively peaceful and have always taken place outside the Eskom main gate on Witkoppen Road, hence the college has previously never been affected, except for the protest two weeks ago.”
“I consulted with the college executive, as well as, the chairman of the council, Mr Nathaniel Ramuthaga and we made the decision to close the school,” Morais added that the safety of their learners and staff is of importance.
On 22 July, Maxwell Drive was shut down due to similar action by residents around Gauteng protesting against Eskom’s service delivery, the school decided to close its doors as protestors blocked the school’s entrance with dust bins and rocks.
Metro Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said they were unaware of any protest action and could not confirm. “If it does go ahead it is not a protected protest.”
Ward 94 councillor Candice James said there is a strong security presence around the area to assess the situation.
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