A group of angry Iterileng residents took to the streets of Laudium and Erasmia on Friday night protesting a three day power blackout.
Several streets were littered with rocks and rubble as the group made their way through the streets.
They planned to march to the house of councillor elect Naeem Patel.
Patel took refuge at the Erasmia Police Station and failed to meet the protestors. He apparently feared for his safety.
Patel’s family also evacuated their Erasmia home.
The protesters gathered at the corner of the link road and Leisching Street in Erasmia. They set tyres on fire in the road and also stoned a house. They threatened to burn another house thinking it was Patel’s residence.
Police only arrived at the scene over an hour later and the group dispersed. They caused more damage when they walked back to Iterileng.
It’s the first time that residents of the informal settlement marched to Erasmia causing anger, fear and anxiety amongst local residents.
Social media WhatsApp groups were abuzz asking why Patel failed to come and meet them.
The protesters promised to returned tomorrow if their power was not restored.
Below are a few comments from residents-
- What bull shit is this.,.. ? Mr Patel in police custody and his family safe...but what about us that live within close proximity? ...what a Shit show tonight! Not acceptable. If the shoe fits wear it and be prepared to face the shit.
- Pleasure. Just pray the protestoes are NOT spiteful and destroy our substations.
The residents of Ext.3 has always been subjected to their abuse when they protested in the past.
- Tonight is just the kind of thank you the community of laudium gets for all the charity we give.
- Why should we as residents of Laudium be subjected this this crap wer are we safe if ever that we think we are
- So now Naeem Patel shows up after the protestors left claiming that the cops held him against his will and preventing him from meeting the protestors!
What does he think that we idiots to believe his lies!
He hid away like a coward and took his family to safety deserting the community and putting us in harms way
- When it was time to party he painted the town red!!! The victory convoy was a hit. But when it’s time to face the music and do his job. He is gone!!! We had a previous councillor who also had a family but he stood in the front line!!!
- No one wants him or anyone to get hurt. Prior to the elections ministers were in laudium every weekend. He and his buddies had the “pull” to get them for the campaign. Why not get them in now when they are needed
- This is so wrong !!!The councillor is ridiculed even though he was trying to help . We must bear in mind that the issues that we are faced with currently were already a problem before the elections. We should not play the blame game .
- If anybody else was in the situation wouldn't u protect yourself and family it's been 19 days since election u can't change overnight
- Exactly and he needs to be sworn in to office for them to know who he is ..I dnt think naeem will want people of laudium to suffer . His aim is to make laudium a better and safer place for all
","summary":"Protest in Laudium and Erasmia due to power outage
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