Soweto electricity protests rages on

Image: News24

South Western Township (Soweto) residents are up in arms with the electricity utility saying they have had enough with erratic power supply.

Protesters said thousands of people living in flats at Walter Sisulu Square have been without electricity for 13 days.

A substation in Eldorado Park blew on Good Friday, leaving most of the surrounding neighbourhoods in the dark.

City Power restored the electricity to some areas, but some are still without power.

“People are throwing away food on a daily basis. In our flat we have a disabled young boy, who is bed ridden and survives on oxygen,” said Sonto Simelane, who lives at the flats owned by the Johannesburg Social Housing Company.

Simphiwe Ndlovu lives at the Pimville Golf Course flats. He said residents are frustrated.

“Kids can’t study and some skip school because of the power issue. We throw away spoiled food. We are so tired of this,” said Ndlovu.

Residents also alleged that a cable theft syndicate operating in and around Kliptown is behind their power problems.