Africa-Press – South-Africa. We are getting used to the smell of paraffin. Our clothes and homes even smell of paraffin.”
So says Tebogo Choma, a resident of KwaThema, Ekurhuleni after their substation went up in flames on 11 May forcing them to rely on paraffin.
They haven’t had electricity since then and Choma said she was now forced to spend R50 a day on paraffin.
“I buy two litres of paraffin daily to cook for my family. This is painful. Our hands are tied, and there is nothing we can do. I spend R24 a day travelling to and from my family to charge our cellphones.
“We are getting used to the smell of paraffin. Our clothes and homes even smell of paraffin. We don’t get any updates from Ekurhuleni. Some parts have been fully restored except for us in KwaThema Extension 3,” Choma said.
She complained that criminals were capitalising on the darkness in their area.
She said:
“He can’t leave at that time. It is dark, and he fears being robbed by criminals on his way to work. He now leaves home at 06:30, when it is clear. We are tired. We want our power back,” said Choma.
She claimed she was not part of the protesters who torched two municipal vehicles and a customer centre.
“We have been told that the protest will resume on Friday. I am going to join them. I am tired of living in the dark like an animal. I don’t condone the vandalism and torching of buildings.
“Because government only acts when there is fire, people will continue burning tyres seeking their attention. Barricading roads by us will warn them [Ekurhuleni] that we are angry. For electricity to be restored, there must be smoke in KwaThema.”
Choma added that people were mobilising for more protests until electricity was restored.
Zweki Mashazi and Sibusiso Mthombeni had mixed emotions about the protests.
Mthombeni runs a tyre-fitment centre and is a panel beater in the township.
“I am heavily affected. My business has been closed since 11 May. I am fully behind those who are protesting, but I am against vandalism and burning of properties. We are alone in this darkness. The municipality must update us with the latest developments.
“My business relies on electricity to survive. I have lost many customers since 11 May. Burning properties won’t bring the solution we want. There are avenues we should follow to ensure power is restored,” said Mthombeni.
Mashazi has resorted to using a paraffin stove.
“Paraffin is not healthy at all. I am surviving from hand to mouth. I can’t cook anymore. I am spending a lot on paraffin. As a tenant, my landlord demanded total rent, yet we didn’t have electricity for three weeks.
“Whether I use electricity or not, I must pay my rent in full. I am behind the protesters, and at the same time, I am against the burning of things. No one will listen to us if we are violent,” said Mashazi.
Ekurhuleni municipality spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said two vehicles were torched on Wednesday at the KwaThema Customer Care Centre.
“We strongly condemn these types of violent and barbaric acts. We can’t have a situation where you damage things because you want something. Resources that were meant for other things will have to go and replace what had been vandalised.
“This group of people that carried out these acts of vandalism didn’t demand anything. They didn’t say anything to anybody. No issue was raised with the municipality at all.”
Around the clock
Dlamini said 97% of electricity had been restored in the township.
“We have been updating them. The only two areas we are currently restoring are KwaThema Extension 3 and Barcelona section. We are working around the clock to restore power. The worst part is the delays caused by the community.”
“They are demanding jobs from those who are restoring power. They even attempted to torch their machinery. By now, power could have been restored. We are appealing for patience. The community must allow our officials to do their job without hindrance,” Dlamini said.
“We would have loved to restore the power much earlier as it is winter. However, things beyond our control have delayed us. We hope to restore the power by this weekend.
“People must use relevant channels to address service delivery matters [rather] than resort to vandalism and torching municipal and private property,” Dlamini said.
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