Johannesburg - Orlando West in Soweto was tense on Thursday as protests against Eskom prepaid meters continued.
Metro police arrested two young men and bundled them into a police vehicle. “We’re taking them to Orlando police station,” one officer told a woman who inquired why they were being arrested.
Police maintained a high presence and were trying to remove some of the rocks and tree stumps scattered along Khumalo Street. However, two women kept throwing the rocks back onto the street.
“This is a legitimate protest and we support it. These prepaid meters gulp down our money, we want to pay for electricity, but they should get rid of them,” said one of the women who refused to be named.
A police nyala was parked next to the Hector Petersen Museum as armed police walked up and down the township and police helicopter hovered around the area.
Community leader Mbuzo Ngwenya claimed that the prepaid meters were designed to run at a high speed, costing consumers a lot of money.
“You buy a R500 voucher on Monday, and within that week the money will be finished. Where are we supposed to get R500 a week for electricity? I know I don’t have R2000 a month for prepaid,” Ngwenya said.
The protest started on Wednesday when residents barricaded roads and demanded the removal of the prepaid meters.
ANA