SEBOKENG. – A two-and-a-half hour protest saw Sebokeng residents shocked and furious on Monday afternoon. This was when nearby hostel dwellers, particularly Hostel 5A and B, closed Moshoeshoe Road due to electricity tripping in their residences due to an overload. These particular residents blocked the road with burning tyres and stones.
Thabong Shopping Center, the Masoheng robots and the industrial area were the most affected places due to traffic congestion. Sedibeng Ster observed that the protest was led by school children and young people while their elders were nowhere to be seen. Young people were sitting in the middle of the road drinking different kinds of beer, while motorists and road users were struggling to get home or to work. Local Ward Councillor Griffiths Mzizi said it was totally wrong for the community to close the road.
“Firstly the protest was not authorised. We need to address this issue as brutally and as honestly as it is. Closing the road and breaking or vandalising of own infrastructure has nothing to do with the electricity overload, nor the cut off. These are criminal elements at work!” said Mzizi. Sedibeng Ster further elaborated the matter to Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) acting head of Corporate Communications, Stanley Gaba, who said they were aware of the protest. Gaba said, “The closing of the road has nothing to do with electricity overload. However, the protest alone was illegal because it was not authorised.”
Sebokeng Police Spokesperson, Captain Teboho Lephoto said no case had been opened. However, Police had monitored the situation, which did not last long.
