Category Archives: electricity

Two more shack dwellers killed by state violence in Durban

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/two-killed-in-fight-over-electricity-1.1594614#.UmTvffnI3UV

 

Two killed in fight over electricity

Two people were killed and seven injured, allegedly by eThekwini Municipality security guards, on Saturday in a fight over electricity.

At about 9am on Saturday a stand-off took place between city officials and residents at the New Germany informal settlement in Reservoir Hills when officials disconnected cables drawing electricity from nearby schools and garages to the informal settlement.

Relatives of Malizo Fakaza and Nhlanhla Mkhize, the men who were killed, are now demanding that the city accept responsibility for their deaths.

Fakaza, who lived in the Kennedy Road informal settlement, was visiting his cousin, Mbali Mdlozini.

He was shot in the head.

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Government policies are behind the shack-fire epidemic in Cape Town

Abahlali baseMjondolo Western Cape
1 January 2012

Government policies are behind the shack-fire epidemic in Cape Town

As residents of QQ Section shack settlement and members of the movement Abahlali baseMjondolo, we would like to say that we are not happy about what happened early this morning across the street from QQ Section.

A massive shack-fire, which started at around 4am, swept through almost the entire shack settlement of BM Section leaving thousands homeless and at least three (but possibly as much as six) people dead. We have a few Abahlali members in the settlement and, as residents of QQ Section, we also have a large number of friends and family who also were affected by the fire. We therefore remain in living solidarity with all those affect by the fire in BM section and other shack fires in WD Section and in Du Noon.

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Video Interview with Mnikelo Ndabankulu on Operation Khanyisa


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Filmmaker Dara Kell and Members of the South African shackdwellers movement stop by The Show on their 8 city tour for Dear Mandela to explain the history behind their struggle for equality in post-apartheid South Africa. Prof. Ken Salo and Prof Kathy Oberdeck host these scholars on a special broadcast of The Show.

The Post: Calm restored after electricity protest

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/calm-restored-after-electricity-protest-1.1362809#.UCy9e6niax4

Calm restored after electricity protest

August 15 2012 at 09:58am
By Viasen Soobramoney

Durban – Homeowners of Palmiet Road in Clare Estate were trapped in their homes on Sunday as residents from the nearby informal settlement clashed with eThekwini Municipality officials trying to remove illegal electricity connections.

Residents of the settlement barricaded roads, burnt tyres and stoned municipal vehicles and the private security company guarding council officials.

“We were trapped in our homes and terrified. The workers from the electricity department were being stoned and then there were gun shots. It was really scary. We didn’t know what would happen next. Fortunately the protesters did not damage our property. They just prevented the council from removing their electricity,” said a resident who refused to be named.

Another resident said he supported the municipality’s actions because often he was left without electricity because informal settlers had been stealing electricity causing faults with the power supply.

“We are tired of these power outages. We sometimes go for hours without electricity because of illegal connections and we are the ones paying for it,” he said .

Mnikelo Ndabankulu, spokesman for Informal residents group, Abahali Base Mjondolo, said the only option for the municipality was to electrify the informal settlement.

“Nobody will accept not having electricity when others have it just around the corner.

“These illegal connections are known as ‘peoples connections’ because the people are doing it for themselves when the council cannot provide for them.

“Nobody has said that these informal residents would not pay for electricity if it was provided. They are willing to pay,” said Ndabankulu.

eThekwini municipality spokesman Thabo Mofokeng said council would continue to remove illegal electricity connections.

“We have an ongoing programme to remove illegal electricity connections and we will continue with it. There is a programme to roll out interim services to these informal residents but they must remain patient. We cannot condone violence,” said Mofokeng.

Police confirmed the incident. “A case of public violence is being investigated by Sydenham SAPS. It was reported that the municipality employees were at Palmiet Road to disconnect illegal electrical connections in the area.

“The Sydenham community members mobilised and attacked the municipality employees. No arrests have been made as yet and no injuries were reported,” said police spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane. – POST

Note: The Palmiet Road settlement is not affiliated to AbM