There will be no votes without electricity, warn Bekkersdal residents
Police fired rubber bullets at protesters during Wednesday's demonstrations and subsequent looting in the area.
BEKKERSDAL - Angry residents in Bekkersdal, in the West Rand, say if their demands for electricity and basic services aren’t met, they won't vote in the upcoming elections.
Police fired rubber bullets at protesters during Wednesday's demonstrations and subsequent looting in the area. People’s homes are connected to electricity illegally with wooden planks and tree barks acting as electricity poles.
They say sewerage drains haven’t been cleaned since 2016. Community leader in the area Seun Sekane said there can be no votes without electricity.
“The councillor came to us and promised that by April there’ll be electricity and that never happened. Now, people are saying there will be no votes before electricity.”
Tensions have eased into the afternoon, but police say they’ll stay in the area until order is restored.
Seun Sekane of the Spoktown Community says sewerage hasn’t been cleaned since the municipal elections. He’s calling on Premier David Makhura to address the issue. AK pic.twitter.com/JGKJoUf5Jf
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) April 10, 2019
#Bekkersdal Police are firing rubber bullets at protestors in Bekkersdal. Rocks are being hurled at police. pic.twitter.com/QBFHbk6OZq
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) April 10, 2019
#Bekkerdal Residents are looting shops on the area. One shop has already been looted. Residents are demanding schools, electricity and infrastructure for sewerage. AK pic.twitter.com/NTISQD2lbX
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) April 10, 2019
