Frustration over rolling blackouts, lack of water and service delivery, has caused communities in most parts of the country to take to the streets to express their frustrations on Monday. This comes a week after Eskom announced stage six loadshedding which the power utility said was indefinite. Loadshedding usually results in reservoirs not filling up to the sufficient levels which adds strain to water supply.

PROTESTS TURNED UGLY

In Parys in the Free State, angry residents first torched municipal offices, vandalised buildings before torching the house of Ngwathe Local Municipality mayor Victoria De Beer Mthombeni's parents. They complain of lack of water in the area for years with loadshedding making it even worse. Community members say the municipality used to provide water tankers which is not enough for everyone. On Sunday Dee Beer Mthombeni took to social media and posted a statement where she was asking Ramaphosa to come up with a solution on the electricity crisis.

A PLEA TO RAMAPHOSA

While her house was being torched, mayor Mthombeni took to social media and wrote an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa. "Dear Mr President force yaka. While we already have a challenge of distributing water to the communities due to many factors, but loadshedding yona is making matters worse. Rescue us from all the insults and name calling. Yesterday's 10 hours of loadshedding has made matters worse for me. Yours Sincerely. Force yahao Victoria."

MORE PROTESTS

In Mpumalanga, community members set four trucks and two bakkies of fire in Vosman and pelted several cars with stones. The protest came after a power outage since last week Wednesday. The municipality said the situation was worsened by cable theft. Meanwhile in Boksburg, residents blockaded roads with burning tyres in protest over relentless power cuts on Monday. In Phongolo in the far north of KwaZulu-Natal protestors closed the busiest route with burning tyres blocking coal trucks going to Richards Bay port. A resident, Thulani Shabangu told ZiMoja that they took to the streets because they are sick and tired of the loadshedding. "We cannot be allowing a situation where neighbouring countries have the light while we are in the dark. No trucks will be allowed to pass here going to Richards Bay to export our coal. Enough is enough," he said.

Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela said while residents have a right to protest, the rights of others must also be respected. "We are aware of the unrest currently taking place in Moqhaka and Ngwathe Local Municipalities respectively. Sadly, these protests have taken a violent turn and resulted in property, including the home of the Executive Mayor being set alight," Ntombela said. Four people were arrested and charged with arson.