Khayelitsha residents protest electricity shortages, attack community clinic

The City of Cape Town has strongly condemned the violent attack on a local clinic, where frustrated residents of Khayelitsha's Town Two attempted to set the building alight.

In a desperate protest over ongoing electricity shortages, these residents vented their anger by damaging the community clinic, igniting a room in their quest for attention to their plight.

According to ward councillor Thando Pimpi, the shack dwellers had illegally connected electricity from a transformer, which later blew up.

“They wanted to go to the clinic where there is another transformer. We managed to speak to them on Wednesday, and we asked them to stop, and we warned them not to seek service delivery in that manner.

“We also set up an appointment with the relevant stakeholders to discuss how we can help the community members.

“I couldn’t sleep on Tuesday night because the people threatened to burn my house down, but they didn’t do anything, and the situation remains tense. No one has yet been arrested; some people were identified.”

The City of Cape Town’s Health Department said: “Information at this stage indicates that a group of protestors set fire to a part of the clinic late on Monday evening. The outside waste room was gutted, but the clinic remains intact.

“The group also damaged the motorised vehicle gate to get onto the property and the Eskom transformer on the premises, leaving the clinic without electricity.

“Protestors burnt tyres outside the premises once more on Tuesday evening, 23 September. City Health resumed limited services at the clinic today, 25 September. The attack on the clinic must be condemned – there is no justification for destroying community assets in this manner.

“We call on anyone with information about who is responsible to please inform the South African Police Service. Alternatively, report it to the city’s 24-hour tip-for-reward line.”

Western Cape Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said no one has been arrested as they investigate a case of arson.

“The circumstances surrounding this incident now form part of the police investigation.

“It is reported that security officers were threatened by community members at a local medical facility on Monday. The community took action and set the building alight. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.

“Makhaza police registered a case of arson for further investigation.”

The police appeal to anyone with information to please call Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.

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Cape Argus