By Anita Dangazele
- The clash between Scenery Park and Zibonele residents left three injured, with a church and 10 homes vandalised after illegal electricity connections were cut.
- Buffalo City Metro says the area’s mini-substation has been replaced twice due to constant overloading caused by illegal connections.
A long-standing electricity problem exploded into violence this week in Buffalo City after Scenery Park residents cut illegal power cables coming from the nearby Zibonele informal settlement.
On Tuesday night, frustrated residents tried to take matters into their own hands. But instead of relief, it sparked a violent response that carried into Wednesday evening.
By Thursday morning, the streets between the two communities were littered with broken glass and ash. A church had been damaged, windows were shattered in multiple homes, and chairs were burnt and dumped near the local substation — the heart of the ongoing electricity battle.
Buffalo City Metro confirmed that the mini-substation feeding both areas has already been replaced twice due to overloading caused by illegal connections.
Police said three people were injured and 10 homes vandalised during the chaos. One house was also looted.
Thabisa Nkawu, a resident of Scenery Park, said she was hit by a bottle while running for cover.
“I was trying to hide from the bottles and stones flying over our heads. One of them hit me and broke my finger,” she said.
The situation escalated after Zibonele residents accused their neighbours of crossing a line by cutting off power they were relying on.
“After the Ndancama residents disconnected the connections, there was no need to hit one of our own, that is why we had to come out in numbers to defend ourselves,” said a Zibonele resident.
Police have opened cases of housebreaking and malicious damage to property. Officers say they will increase patrols in the area to try to calm tensions.
Pictured above: Scenery Park on Thursday after the violent clashes.
Image source: Supplied
