Soweto Leader Nhlanhla Lux Trends As Diepkloof Clamours Over Electricity Situation

• Soweto Parliament's Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini has been trending on Twitter for leading the protests in Diepkloof
• The community have staged protests against Eskom's move to disconnect power due to illegal connections in the area
• Dlamini declared that residents will not pay until Eskom investigates said contractors over prepaid meters
• Vocal South Africans expressed polarising views on Dlamini's stance and the tense situation in Diepkloof

SOWETO - The situation in Diepkloof Zone 3 in Soweto remains volatile as residents demand electricity to be restored following several weeks without power, which was disconnected by Eskom due to, among other reasons, illegal connections in the area.

As a result, the community went on a rampage, barricading roads with burning tyres and large rocks as they called on the national power supplier to act on their demands or face their wrath.

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They also accused the new Mayor of the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Mpho Phalatse of ignoring their pleas, despite the widespread meter bypassing and purchasing of electricity from 'ghost vendors' as has been stated by the former.

Briefly News reported earlier that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) berated Phalatse over what the party labelled as unfair electricity disconnections. The party accused Phalatse of demonstrating a willingness to oppress the poor residents of the city in an effort to satisfy her so-called white masters.

Since then, a community leader Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini, who is credited with protecting the Maponya Mall amid the tense unrest and widespread looting in many parts of the township and Johannesburg in July, has been trending on social media for the better part of Friday afternoon.

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Firm stance against non-payments

The President of the Soweto Parliament has been front and centre of the revolt against Eskom, the CoJ and Phalatse, declaring firmly in videos that have since been making the rounds online that Soweto residents will not pay until Eskom investigates contractors who were meant to install prepaid meters.

During a community engagement session amid the protest action that engulfed the community, Dlamini vehemently stated that should the embattled power utility not restore electricity to the area by the close of business on Friday, no one will enjoy South Africa.

South Africans air mixed views

Vocal locals have had polarising views on the situation in Diepkloof and Dlamini's anti-hero role in the demonstrations. Briefly News takes a look at some of the commentary below.

@RadicalStandSA wrote:

"This Nhlanhla Lux guy is a factory fault. He is an attention seeker."

@Kenosi_Rakosa said:

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"I am a girl from Soweto, Diepkloof. Nhlanhla Lux represents me and we are not being used by him in any way. How do you expect people earning R350 to pay R6k reconnection fees?"

@Nhlanhlantsim added:

"Nhlanhla Lux must never be trusted, he's all over the place every protest in Soweto he's there, talking wit different tongues, Photos of him with high profile ppl particularly in gvt. Driving expensive cars. What his intentions kahle kahle. Our ppl must b careful abt him."

EFF angry over 'electricity disconnections across Joburg'

Elsewhere, Briefly News recently reported that the EFF are crying foul over Phalatse's move to effect what the party is calling unfair electricity disconnections all over the city in recent days.

“Through her recent actions, Phalatse has dismally failed and declared war on the poor and marginalised in the city. She is discriminating when she [instead] needs to provide the most basic service delivery needs to the poor,” said the EFF in a statement.

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SABC News reported that the CoJ's revenue customer services department has in its possession a list of consumers and the amounts by which they continue to default on utility payments.

“The recent public comments in which Phalatse says the Zone 3 residents of Diepkloof are criminals conducting illegal connections is a fallacy because residents who connect electricity illegally do so because Eskom and the City are not providing them with electricity,” the statement continued.

Source: Briefly News