PROTESTERS in Orlando West, Soweto on Thursday targeted the iconic Sakhumzi restaurant on Vilakazi Street to vent their frustrations at an electricity payment system that they say is unaffordable.
Orlando West residents have been protesting against a pay-as-you-go system for electricity and demanding a flat rate of a maximum of R400 a month.
The protesters barricaded roads near Vilakazi Street with burning tyres and tried to burn down Sakhumzi restaurant on Thursday morning.
Vilakazi Street is home to a number of high-end hospitality businesses and a national museum, which was once the home of former president Nelson Mandela.
Irate founder of Sakhumzi restaurant Sakhumzi Maqubela said protesters began gathering outside his restaurant but that the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department was working to disperse protesters.
"They are threatening Sakhumzi restaurant alone. I don’t know if I am a mayor. Before, they would burn the mayor’s house when they had demands, but now it seems like Sakhumzi is the mayor. First foreigners were targeted, now we have apparently done something wrong. If they want to see the next Marikana let them continue threatening Vilakazi Street," Mr Maqubela said.
He said he had his own battles to fight against Eskom as the power utility claimed that he owed it R300,000 for electricity.
President of the National Tourism and Hospitality Association Fanny Mokoena said: "I don’t see what a restaurant has to do with Eskom. People just need to be realistic. You know when people get together as a mob there is an element of jealousy."
She said the association would speak to the Johannesburg council to ensure that businesses in the area were kept safe from violent protesters.
Picture: Dominic Preuss
PROTESTERS in Orlando West, Soweto on Thursday targeted the iconic Sakhumzi restaurant on Vilakazi Street to vent their frustrations at an electricity payment system that they say is unaffordable.
Orlando West residents have been protesting against a pay-as-you-go system for electricity and demanding a flat rate of a maximum of R400 a month.
The protesters barricaded roads near Vilakazi Street with burning tyres and tried to burn down Sakhumzi restaurant on Thursday morning.
Vilakazi Street is home to a number of high-end hospitality businesses and a national museum, which was once the home of former president Nelson Mandela.
Irate founder of Sakhumzi restaurant Sakhumzi Maqubela said protesters began gathering outside his restaurant but that the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department was working to disperse protesters.
"They are threatening Sakhumzi restaurant alone. I don’t know if I am a mayor. Before, they would burn the mayor’s house when they had demands, but now it seems like Sakhumzi is the mayor. First foreigners were targeted, now we have apparently done something wrong. If they want to see the next Marikana let them continue threatening Vilakazi Street," Mr Maqubela said.
He said he had his own battles to fight against Eskom as the power utility claimed that he owed it R300,000 for electricity.
President of the National Tourism and Hospitality Association Fanny Mokoena said: "I don’t see what a restaurant has to do with Eskom. People just need to be realistic. You know when people get together as a mob there is an element of jealousy."
She said the association would speak to the Johannesburg council to ensure that businesses in the area were kept safe from violent protesters.
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