Scores of residents from four areas in Mlungisi, Komani took to the streets on Thursday, April 13 in protest after being without electricity for seven days.
Residents of Eskom, Magxaki, Railway as well as Khayelitsha and Nomzamo burnt tyres in front of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality’s budget and treasury office.
At one stage, municipal officials tried to extinguish the fire, but the fire extinguisher was empty. This prompted residents to laugh off municipal officials as “incompetent jokes”.
Finance portfolio head Ungathi Galada addressed the community members where he asked the residents to air their grievances.
First to fire the salvo was community member Fuzeka Hoho who said the areas had been experiencing electricity challenges since December 8, 2022. She said the municipality had been relying on temporary arrangements.
“The temporary arrangements are spoiling our food and damaging our appliances. We have never asked you (the municipality) to replace our damaged appliances and rotten food. We are here today because we are sick and tired of this municipality. We want electricity today,” said Hoho.
She added that EMLM was not taking responsibility of its citizens.
Buzani Gcinisa, another community member, said the municipality was not communicating with residents. He said ward councillors were useless and had to be removed from office.
“If we don’t have electricity today, we will come back and make things worse. We will close all the municipal offices in this town,” said Gcinisa.
He said the municipality had no respect for community members and was hiding behind police when residents raised issues.
After much wrangling, Galada made a call to an unidentified person asking for progress on the repairs. The call was put on speakerphone.
The person on the line said, “The contractor has arrived but will not go on site until the payment has been effected.”
Galada promised to fast track the payment. After a while, the contractor confirmed the payment, and the residents are on site waiting for the contractor.
This is a developing story.
