KZN COGTA MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi To Visit Vryheid After Community Torches Municipal Offices
- Service delivery protests spread across Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal after Eskom reportedly implemented load reduction without warning
- Angry community members burned the municipal offices in the township and accused the municipality of implementing load reduction without consultation
- Other parts of Vryheid joined the protest, and the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thulasizwe Buthelez, is expected to visit the area
Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of Current Affairs, contributed coverage of international and local social issues, including health, corruption, education, unemployment, labour, service delivery protests, and immigration in South Africa, during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.
Source: UGC
VRYHEID, KWAZULU-NATAL — KwaZulu-Natal's MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Thulasizwe Buthelezi, is expected to visit Vryheid on 12 September 2025 after the community burst into violent service delivery protests. A municipal building's offices were torched on 10 September after load reduction was reportedly implemented without warning.
In a statement the department released on 12 September, Buthelezi called for calm and encouraged community members to express their concerns without breaking the law. Representatives from Eskom and the Abaqulusi Local Municipality will accompany him on his visit. Community burns municipal offices.
Briefly News contacted Eskom for a comment. Eskom did not reply at the time of publishing.
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Community members protest load reduction
Buthelezi's visit came after frustrated members of the Mlondo township torched the municipal offices after the Abaqulusi Local Municipality implemented load reduction. Videos of the torching incident went viral on social media.
The protest action spread to other parts of Vryheid, which have also been affected by the load reduction. The Cliffdale community joined the protest and picketed on 11 September. Community members also demanded better services. Tension arose after a verbal confrontation exploded between the protesters and security forces who tried to clear the blocked road between Pongola and Vryheid.
Source: Getty Images
Service delivery protests in 2025
Residents of a community in Potchefstroom, North West, embarked on service delivery action on 16 June 2025 ahead of Deputy President Paul Mashatile's visit to the area. Young people complained about service delivery, unemployment, and a lack of extracurricular activities to keep young people off the streets.
Residents of Thembisa in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, protested against the tariff increase that the Ekurhuleni Local Municipality implemented. Community members clashed with the South African Police Service on 21 July 2025, and the mayor, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, addressed the community.
South Africans worried
South Africans commenting on X were concerned about the impact of the protest.
Lahngz_Da Alpha Dog said:
"Someone said South Africa is a ticking time bomb. I hope this is not the start of it."
Lindie said:
"This is really horrible. Firstly, the desperation of the residents, and secondly, the destruction we cannot afford."
MR D said:
"Politicians are celebrating. All those tender documents filled with corruption are destroyed."
Mo Madibi said:
"Politicians lose nothing from burning buildings."
Sabizinto Biyela asked:
"How will that solve the problem?"
Free state residents protest
In a related article, Briefly News reported that residents of Khutsong-Bothaville in the Free State took to the streets on 19 March 2025. The residents called for senior municipal officers to resign.
Residents accused the mayor, municipal manager, nd chief financial officer of neglecting the community. They barricaded roads with burning tyres and stones.
Source: Briefly News
