Wards 110 and 80 residents protest against load reductions

During the protest, Mayibuye community leader, Thabiso Mehlapi highlighted that they had so many meetings with City Power to resolve these issues.

June 26, 2023

Comfort Makhanya 2 minutes read

Ward 110 and 80 residents protest against unrelated load-shedding power outages. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

It is becoming increasingly apparent that unrelated power outages and load reductions continue to afflict wards 110 and 80 residents.

Due to these ongoing power outage issues, a Mass Action protest organised by the Wards Electricity Crisis Committee took place from Modderfontein and Dale routes in Rabie Ridge to the City of Joburg Region A offices on June 15, to convey their memorandum of grievances.

[USE FOR PRINT]Ward 110 and 80 Electricity Crisis Committee chairperson Loyiso Sihoyiya and Mayibuye community leader Thabiso Mehlapi leads the strike to City Power Midrand. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

Specifically, the memorandum was addressed to Abigail Ndlovu, Region A director, as residents of Kanana, Mayibuye, Rabie Ridge, President Park, and Austin View demanded solutions regarding the ‘unfair’ load reductions, blackouts, and unplanned power interruptions the community endures daily.

During the protest, Mayibuye community leader Thabiso Mehlapi highlighted that they had so many meetings with City Power to resolve these issues. However, they continue to face them.

Region A director Abigail Ndlovu and Ward 110/80 Electricity Crisis Committee Adam Campell sign the memorandum. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

“Regional director we come to you crying. We have been suffering because if it is not load-shedding, it is load reduction or load rotation. We don’t even know what load reduction is nor rotation,” said Mehlapi.

“We are constantly told that we don’t buy electricity every time we speak. When we ask them [City Power] to instal prepaid meters to avoid this, they don’t show up. We have been complaining about a damaged transformer since 2018, but still no action.

Ward 110 and 80 councillors Angie Mphaho and Melody Hlatshwayo protest with residents. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

“We have a human settlement that draws electricity from Mayibuye – illegally of course. We tried to communicate with City Power and told them that since they say overloading is also the cause of outages, they should also give Mayibuye residents electricity since they could give them stand numbers, but still no action. City Power, stop dividing us.”

Despite Ndlovu’s apology and assurances that answers to residents’ grievances would be provided within 10 days, the regional director also stated that the matter, however, cannot be resolved in that short time.

Mayibuye community leader Thabiso Mehlapi speaks. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

“First, all Region A residents need to work together to resolve this issue. We need to walk the streets together. We need to normalise the areas in which City Power has done electrification,” said Ndlovu.

“We also need to look at one City Power feed in Rabie Ridge where residents have built houses on top of the power line. Let’s walk the streets after 10 days to point out problems on-site. We were supposed to start the normalising programme in 2015 – where we were supposed to normalise, upgrade, and then stabilise.”

Ward 110 and 80 Electricity Crisis Committee secretary Adam Campbell speaks. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

To address their grievances, as well as to establish a way forward, the ward leaders, including councillors Angie Mphago and Melody Hlatshwayo, will meet with the Region A director and all required stakeholders in 10 days.

Region A director Abigail Ndlovu addresses the community. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

Despite this, the residents feel that it is imperative that the matter be dealt with as soon as possible, to avoid any ‘further unpleasant action’ from their side.

They argue that the normalisation process has already taken place long ago and that the next protest will not be as peaceful as this one.

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