PICS: Burning tyres and roadblocks as Tembisa residents demand power restoration
Residents of Tembisa barricaded roads and burned tyres as they protested intensified electricity disconnections by the City of Ekurhuleni over unpaid accounts.
Image: Supplied/EMPD
Angry residents of Tembisa have taken to the streets to protest what they describe as harsh credit control measures by the City of Ekurhuleni, which has intensified electricity disconnections over non-payment and issued more termination notices.
The unrest began on Sunday night, when residents blocked roads with stones and burning tyres in response to electricity cut-offs.
They have threatened mass protests over the disconnections linked to unpaid accounts.The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) confirmed the protest.
“A protest action is currently under way in the Tembisa area, where several roads have been barricaded with burning tyres and rocks,” said EMPD spokesperson Katlego Mphahlele.
Several roads in Tembisa are closed with burning tyres and rocks as residents protested electricity disconnections.
Image: Supplied/EMPD
She said Brian Mazibuko Drive, RTJ Namane Drive, Emfihlweni and several other roads in Tembisa had been affected.
“Motorists are advised to avoid these routes and use alternative roads where possible.”
Mphahlele said officers from the EMPD’s First Response Unit and Public Order Policing unit, as well as the South African Police Service, were on the scene monitoring the situation and ensuring public safety.
The protests come as the municipality increases electricity disconnections for unpaid accounts, issuing more pre-termination and termination notices to residents.
Stones and burned tyres on the roads, as residents of Tembisa protest over electricity disconnections by the City of Ekurhuleni.
Image: Supplied/EMPD
On Sunday night, City of Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza said he had taken note of the planned protest and residents’ concerns about service disconnections, termination notices and the city’s indigent policy.
Following consultations with ward councillors and community representatives, acting mayoral spokesperson Ramatolo Tlotleng said Xhakaza had instructed relevant departments to halt the issuing of pre-termination and termination letters, as well as the disconnection of indigent and deemed indigent households, pending a comprehensive investigation.
“We will progressively begin restoring electricity to households that have been disconnected, particularly those registered as indigent and deemed indigent according to the city’s criteria,” Tlotleng said.
Xhakaza also undertook to review the city’s indigent policy to ensure it is fair, responsive and aligned with the socio-economic realities facing vulnerable communities.
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department and the South African Police Service were deployed to monitor protests in Tembisa sparked by electricity disconnections and termination notices.
Image: Supplied/EMPD
In addition, the mayor will initiate a process to scrap outstanding debt for registered indigent and deemed indigent households, subject to verification and policy alignment.
Tlotleng said the mayor emphasised that while the city must maintain a culture of payment for services to ensure sustainability, it also has a constitutional obligation to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
“No qualifying indigent household should be deprived of basic services because of administrative shortcomings or policy gaps,” he said.
The city has called on residents to remain calm and allow the investigative and review processes to unfold.
“The administration remains open to continued dialogue and structured engagement to ensure that the outcome strengthens service delivery, social justice, and stability within the community.”
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