Motorists traveling in Orlando East in Soweto, south of Johannesburg, are advised to be cautious on Monday morning.
This is because several roads have been blockaded due to a service delivery protest.
It’s believed residents are protesting due to electricity cuts in the area.
Metro police officers are on the scene to divert traffic from the affected streets.
Johannesburg Metro Police Spokesperson, Wayne Minnaar says: “There are protests in Orlando east this morning passing the Masupa circle and there is a traffic disruption. There is also an obstruction at Chris Hani and Nicholas streets where protestors have placed rocks and burning tyres at the intersection over what they say is an electricity problem. Officers are present and assisting with the traffic. Motorists can use Immick drive as an alternative route this morning.”
Soweto electricity crisis
The problem of power cuts in Soweto has been a long-standing issue, and residents have over the years taken to the streets to protest against power cuts.
In some instances, power cuts have lasted several days and even years, much to the frustration and anger of residents.
Currently, the township owes power utility Eskom billions of rands, making it difficult for the power utility to buy new transformers and improve its electricity distribution in the township.
During an election campaign in Naledi last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa promised the people of Soweto their electricity issues will soon be a thing of the past.
He was speaking after interacting with residents in some parts of the township, including Nomzamo informal settlement where residents have had no electricity for over two years and Chiawelo and Naledi, where there have been cut-offs and general generalities power outages.
Meanwhile, the Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee last month called for Eskom to write off its entire R16-billion electricity bill that residents owe to it.
This after the power utility had announced it would be writing off R5.3-billion electricity debt owed by Soweto residents.
In June this year, Soweto residents embarked on a service delivery protest outside Eskom’s Megawatt Park:
-Additional reporting by SABC News
