Protesters block Cape Town roads, demanding electricity

Residents of Siyangena informal settlement blocked the corners of New Eisleben and Bristol roads in Philippi with burning tyres on Wednesday, demanding the municipality install electricity. But their homes are built on land not owned by the state. Photos: Sandiso Phaliso

Morning traffic was brought to a standstill in Philippi East on Wednesday when residents of Siyangena informal settlement blocked the corners of New Eisleben and Bristol roads with burning tyres.

The residents are demanding electricity and services from the City of Cape Town.

Siyangena informal settlement sprang up on private land in 2018 when about 500 people from communities including Philippi, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Langa occupied the land. The community has grown since the covid lockdown.

GroundUp reported in 2018 that the land is owned by the Oasis Crescent Property company which obtained an order from the Western Cape High Court for the sheriff to remove the occupiers. But shack dwellers successfully resisted attempts to remove them.

Oasis did not respond to our requests for comment sent at the time, and again on Wednesday.

Now residents say their requests to the City to provide electricity have been ignored. Most rely on illegal connections,The City has previously said that it would need permission from the landowner to install services.

They also took issue with uncollected waste in the settlement.

Community leader Doctor Ngcete told GroundUp on Wednesday that households have connected electricity supply from the neighbouring settlement. Some of them pay up to R1,000 to connect electricity, he said.

This has caused tension between the residents and people living in formal houses nearby who say the illegal connections overload the network and cause regular blackouts.

“How are we supposed to live without electricity? It is not fair. We know this is privately-owned land, but we are members of the public and the City should negotiate on our behalf … We will make this area ungovernable until our demands are met,” he said.

Another resident, Thole Mpunzi, said, “My kids need to read but there is no light. It is a shame for a government that claims to work for all.”

Sicelo Pendu, who lives in a nearby RDP house, said, “These illegal connections are a problem because at times the electricity trips and affects all of us.”

GroundUp sent queries to the City of Cape Town. The article will be updated with the City’s comment when it is received.

Residents started protesting at 5am on Wednesday.

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