Makhaza residents vow to continue fighting until they have electricity

Aggrieved communities of informal settlements along Baden Powell Drive in Khayelitsha have vowed to continue fighting until they get access to electricity.

Residents of Empolweni and Ethembeni in Makhaza are demanding to be connected to the power grid.

On Wednesday, they blocked Baden Powell Drive and adjacent roads with burning tyres and large rocks.

The overcrowded informal settlements are situated on land unsuitable for housing, and residents here have staged a number of protests over a lack of basic services like access to electricity.

The demonstration along Baden Powell Drive near Makhaza escalated with a police Nyala being set alight.

However, residents have denied any involvement, instead accusing police of damaging their own vehicle by driving over burning tyres in the roadway.

Community leader, Bulelani Qolani, said their protest is a cry for basic services.

"The Minister of Electricity must come to address the people of Ethembeni and Empolweni. Government must come and not be arrogant because those people are deployed by the public, but you don't want to listen to us."

He adds that they won't stop protesting until their demands are met.