Residents embark on massive strike over electricity crisis

Traffic was brought to a standstill on Main Road in Finsbury on Friday morning, January 13, as scores of residents took to the streets to protest against the lack of electricity in the area and neighbouring communities.

This comes after a substation in the area exploded – leading to residents being without power for over a week.

Also read: South Africans feel powerless as electricity price hike worsens suffering

The Herald was at the scene and upon arrival noticed that the entrance near a service station in the area was blocked off with rocks and burning tyres.

Speaking to a local resident, Bafana Modise said they are fed up.

“Enough is enough. It has been tough living in total darkness for the past few days. We even lost borehole water in Middelvlei. Our government does not take us seriously. A whole substation exploded and it’s not being treated as a disaster but rather as a small problem. It was only yesterday [January 12] that we had the Member of the Mayoral Committee come and address us and yet he didn’t have any solution or alternative to make sure power is restored.

“I mean, four communities doesn’t have electricity. We are clearly being led by politicians, not governors,” Modise said.

Another resident, Irene Mathonsi, shared the same sentiments saying they are badly affected.

Also read: Changes to electricity meters in South Africa

“There are people who are living on medication that needs to be in refrigerators [that are on and working]. Small business people like me were forced to shut down our business. There are also people who don’t have the means of generators or gas stoves – we are really suffering,” Mathonsi concluded.