Fed up residents of Shaka’s Head closed the N2 and Chaka’s Rock bridge in protest of ongoing electricity outages last night.
The protest and closures ran overnight, from around 10.30pm to 4am, before police and security companies were able to clear the roads.
A few hundred people were part of the protest, with the blockages caused by burning tyres and foliage. Clean up was ongoing throughout the morning.
Shaka’s Head is one of the areas that has been consistently affected by power outages since the beginning of December, along with many suburbs on KwaDukuza’s southern grid.
According to Shaka’s Head councillor, Jetro Banda, the protest was prompted by three days of blackouts.
“You can’t live without power for days at a time,” he said.
“The community feels as though they have been neglected in the past, where other areas might be switched on before them.”
“Although this power outage affected a wider area than Shaka’s Head, the community still became frustrated.”
Banda said he thought communication of outages and repairs were inadequate for the community.
“It’s different to Ballito, when a message gets shared quickly. Many residents don’t even have phones,” he said.
“Residents are asking for updates to be loud-hailed so that everyone can be aware of what is going on.”
Banda said the power was still out in Shaka’s Head this morning but that testing was being done for it to be switched on.
“Even thought I am not an electrician, I must apologise to my people.”
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