Protests erupt in Orange Farm: Here’s what we know

Eyethu Mall is a no-go zone after protests broke out in Orange Farm. Here's what you must know.

Protests erupted in Orange Farm, a township south of Johannesburg, as residents voiced their frustration over continuous service delivery issues.

Orange Farm protests: Here are the latest updates

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The demonstrations took place at Eyethu Mall, a central location in the community, where scores of residents gathered to demand immediate action to resolve their electricity crisis.

The root of the protests dates back to 25 March 2020, when transformers broke down, leaving hundreds of residents without power.

Despite numerous appeals and efforts by the community to address the issue, the transformers have not been replaced or repaired.

This prolonged period without reliable electricity has severely impacted the daily lives of Orange Farm residents, affecting everything from basic household activities to local businesses.

The community’s frustrations have been building over the past three years, culminating in the recent protests.

Residents expressed their anger over the lack of progress and the perceived neglect by authorities.

ActionSA, a political party, highlighted the issue earlier this year in February.

In a statement, the party pointed out that the transformers had been out of service for more than three years, leaving residents to cope with an unreliable power supply.

ActionSA’s intervention brought renewed attention to the crisis, but as of now, no significant steps have been taken to resolve the problem.

The protests at Eyethu Mall disrupted normal activities, with some businesses closing temporarily due to safety concerns.

Law enforcement was deployed to manage the situation and ensure the protests remained peaceful.