Several communities in Johannesburg protested this week against City Power electricity outages and called for connections to informal settlements still waiting for power.
In Malvern residents blocked Jules Street with burning tyres on Monday. Michele Spadino noted some streets had been without power for up to 20 days. Councillor Faeeza Chame reported a faulty cable installed on Elton Street and Outspan Road that was too small for the load forcing another shutdown. She also highlighted over 1,000 calls waiting unanswered shortages of contractors and spare parts.
On Tuesday residents from Riverpark and Mahuanza Flats in Alexandra marched to City Power offices in Bramley. Mapule Mogobane described cold nights and cooking over open fires while Patricia Shabangu said her area had been without power for nearly a month. Spokesperson Isaac Mangena stated the flats had illegal connections and power would return only where 80 percent of households paid their bills.
In Kliptown Soweto residents of Chicken Farm informal settlement blockaded Chris Hani Road on Monday. Jerome Mdlolo said Block B with 388 shacks still lacks electricity despite a R20 million budget for nearby Block A. He noted repeated unfulfilled promises from authorities.