Electricity crisis in Protea South

Electricity crisis in Protea South: LET US FIGHT THE GOVERNMENT, NOT EACH OTHER

Protea South is one of the informal settlements that has not yet benefited in the last 16 years of democracy. As it stands, people in Protea South are still living without services (water, electricity and toilets). Yesterday the community that lives in the bond houses decided to disconnect the electricity that the people from the informal settlement connected into their tin shacks. They went around disconnecting and beating people who connected the electricity within their shacks. As a result, two people were shot and one died on the spot while the other one was rushed to hospital. Maureen Mnisi who is the leader of the LPM (Landless People Movement) was also attacked at her home, the members of the bond houses tried to burn down her shack. The community from the informal settlement got angry and they decided to fight back. They burned down the electricity box and threw stones at the people from the bond houses.

The problem with the Protea South community as whole are services, people need electricity to survive. Whether you live in the shack or in the bond house, we all need electricity. And that is why there is an urgent need to work together to fight the enemy. Fighting each other won’t bring electricity in Protea South. The people with the electricity that we need as the community of Protea South are sitting in their government offices and they are not even seeing the need of giving services. Fighting each other won’t help. We can see that clearly – now that one member of our community has been shot to death by another member, we will be mourning at his funeral. LET US IDENTIFY THE ENEMY THAT CREATES DIVISIONS BETWEEN THE POOR COMMUNITIES. Jacob Zuma nearly cried in Orange Farm last week, so he said. Let us make the government who pretends not to know our issues, come to every poor community where people are suffering without basic services, CRY FOR US ALL. Let us make the government to leave their offices and come to address the issue of electricity in Protea South and other poor communities.

“Organise or die in poverty: The world cup benefits the rich and not the poor”

Bongani Xezwi, activist and researcher

Contact: 071 043 2221