Zandspruit women block Beyers Naudé Drive in illegal connection protest
HONEYDEW – "We are tired of these illegal-connections; they are dangerous and there have been too many deaths."
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 15 October.
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.
“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, the three young children were allegedly playing outside during the rainy weekend of 13 and 14 October when they stepped in water which had a live wire in it 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.
“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.
Police on the scene confirmed that no incidents of violence had been reported and that the protest was peaceful. Motorists are urged to plan alternate routes as the protest action continues.
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