Chaos on Beyers as Zandspruit protest action enters second day

Zandspruit women blocked Beyers Naudé Drive as they protested against illegal electricity connections, allegedly resulting in the deaths of three young children, and the non-delivery of formal electricity services on Monday, reports Randburg Sun.

The group of women blocked the busy road with rocks and tyres. Both the police and metro police were on the scene to closely monitor the situation.

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Zandspruit women protest against illegal electricity connections on Beyers Naudé Drive on 15 October.

“We are tired of these illegal-connection izinyoka (snakes); they are dangerous and there have been too many deaths,” said Zandspruit resident Justine Langa.

According to the protesters, three young children were allegedly playing outside during the rainy weekend of October 13 and 14 when they stepped in water which contained a live wire and were electrocuted.

The outcry against the illegal connections started with an appeal to the government to provide the township with safe and formal electricity.

An Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader and the only male in the protesting crowd, spurs the protesters to action.

“We have to, unfortunately, use these connections as the government has not given us proper ones. We need electricity to cook and for light but we want the proper thing, which we are willing to pay for so that we and our children can be safe,” Langa continued.

The all-female protest group sings and dances after blocking Beyers Naudé Drive with stones and rubble on October 15.

Police on the scene confirmed that no incidents of violence had been reported and that the protest on Monday was peaceful. Today, however, the situation appears to be more hostile.

Motorists are urged to plan alternate routes as the protest action continues. Major routes such as Beyers Naudé Drive, Johan, Peter, Pierre and Marina Roads remain closed due to chaos in the area.

Additional reporting by Roodepoort Northsider.

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