Municipality restores illegal electricity

Illegal electricity connections are costing the City of Ekurhuleni R800 million a year in unaccounted-for electricity. File photo: Zanele Zulu

Illegal electricity connections are costing the City of Ekurhuleni R800 million a year in unaccounted-for electricity. File photo: Zanele Zulu

Published Aug 13, 2014

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Mossel Bay - Mossel Bay municipality has agreed to re-connect illegal electricity in Kwanonqaba after three days of protests, Eye Witness News reported on Wednesday.

The municipality agreed to reconnect the illegal points after hundreds of residents protested following the disconnection on Sunday.

Earlier, 30 people were arrested for public violence and looting shops during protests.

The protest was apparently over service delivery and electricity in the area.

Captain Malcolm Pojie said the arrested were caught on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The protests began on Sunday, with people barricading roads with burning tyres, sticks, and stones.

“They also burnt down the Kwanonqaba municipal building, next to the local police station,” said Pojie.

He said the protesters also tried to burn down the station, but police managed to prevent them.

The protest began with about 100 people on Sunday, but the number grew to about 3000 on Monday and 7000 on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the protesters threw petrol bombs at police, who then used rubber bullets and teargas to disperse the crowd.

“A police helicopter is also being used to monitor the crowd from above,” said Pojie.

He said there were no reported cases of any injuries. Police were monitoring the protesters.

The arrested protesters would appear in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court soon.

Sapa

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