Tension between police and the community of Alexandra was palpable on Tuesday.
Authorities were deployed to disconnect illegal electricity connections in River Park and Greenville, much to the outrage of residents. As protests began, police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the stone-throwing crowds.
First, let us be clear. We do not in any way condone the practice of illegal power connections which is so prevalent in many parts of the country.
Not only is it extremely dangerous – and at times deadly – the cost of non-revenue electricity usage weighs heavily on our municipalities and damages public infrastructure. Yet, it would be naive to only denounce illegal connections without also interrogating why some resort to them.
In Alex, for example, residents of River Park told the media on Tuesday that they in fact wanted to be legally connected to the power infrastructure but that their pleas to City Power had fallen on deaf ears.
“We are desperate,” one resident said. “We don’t mind paying, we just want electricity.”
The power utility, however, said it had pointed the community to the City of Johannesburg whose mandate it is to provide the relevant infrastructure. Two years later, nothing has happened.
This community continues to languish in the dark or illegally skimming power from neighbours. On Tuesday, while trying to resist being disconnected, they were shot at.
One man died after being shot, allegedly by a security guard from Alex Mall, with what residents claim was live ammunition. Residents also claim that the guard fired carelessly at the protesting crowds.
The guard has been arrested and the circumstances of the incident are under investigation.
But this incident, like many others before, bears the hallmarks of a troubling tendency in our nation, where those who are disempowered are routinely met with lethal force while fighting for their most basic rights and services.
We condemn it and call for a speedy investigation into what happened. Any actions found to be illegal, whether intentional or through recklessness, must be justifiably prosecuted.
Furthermore, the City of Joburg must take the responsibility to engage constructively with this community and others in a similar predicament.
Ultimately, the city must meet its obligations to provide basic services.
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