A group of about 200 Ezibeleni residents stormed the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) offices on Wednesday, June 29, as Executive Mayor Wongama Gela was about to deliver his state of the district address demanding their electricity be restored.
This lead to the council meeting being adjourned for about two hours.
Politicians, including ANC regional secretary Lusanda Sizani, tried, in vain to calm the down the angry residents. Shouting at pitched voices, the residents complained of failed businesses and damaged appliances due to the inconsistent power supply.
Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) Executive Mayor Thembeka Bunu, came to listen to the grievances. Bunu represents EMLM at the district council.
Firing the first salvo, resident Qaqamba Matanda said she started a baking business after her mother passed away leaving her with seven dependents. Matanda said her business was thriving especially with weekend orders for parties, church activities and funerals.
“On a good weekend I made around R3 000. Now my business has totally collapsed because the last time I baked was on June 6. I can’t bake anymore because of not having electricity. This morning my one-year-old child ate cornflakes with cold water and icing sugar,” said the angry Matanda.
Community leader, Elias Bokwe, said the outages lasted up to 13 hours in a 24 hour cycle.
“We are sick and tired of this treatment. Don’t you care with what is happening to us. We have put you in those positions and we can remove you. We will no longer burn tyres and damage schools and roads but if you don’t service us, we will take further steps and it will be painful,” Bokwe said.
EMLM infrastructure portfolio head, Mhlangabezwa Mangcotywa, said the municipality was aware of the Ezibeleni electricity challenges.
“In February we set a six month deadline to buy a second transformer for Ezibeleni. Unfortunately transformers are not over the counter items. They have to ne assembled according to certain specifications but we will deliver,” Mangcotywa said.
While this was playing out in town, Khayelitsha township had set the streets on fire due to a week long electricity outage. However, police dispersed the crowd and cleared the roads.
The Ezibeleni residents left after they were promised that their power would be restored.
When Komani-Karoo Express left at 16:00, the council meeting had not started.
