By Mapaballo Borotho
- Alexandra residents have gone nearly a month without electricity, sparking protests and road blockades.
- Frustrated community members say they cannot pay for services they are not receiving and have resorted to alternatives like bathing with cold water.
- Despite a police presence, some residents vow to continue protesting until the issue is resolved.
Residents of the Alexandra township have been without electricity for nearly a month, with their pleas falling on deaf ears.
To address the issue, they have taken to the streets as a way to voice their grievances.
The area was blocked with burning tyres and bricks on Wednesday morning, 29 April 2026.
HAPPENING NOW: Protest action has erupted in Alexandra.
The community is burning tyres on Far East Bank Drive.#KayaNews #Protest SM pic.twitter.com/1tPsmB3WXH— Kaya News (@KayaNews) April 29, 2026
Alex is one of South Africa’s oldest townships and is affected by social ills ranging from poverty and unemployment to a lack of basic services.
There are also areas in Alex that are known for not paying for municipal services such as electricity and running water, meaning some residents access these basic needs illegally.
Speaking to Kaya News on Thursday, residents said they cannot be expected to pay for services they are not receiving.
Residents say they have had to find alternatives for their daily activities, including bathing with cold water.
With police now present in the area and clearing the roads, some residents have vowed to continue with the protests as soon as law enforcement officers leave the scene.
This is a developing story…
READ NEXT: After a long weekend in the dark, power restoration nears for Joburg CBD
The post A month without electricity: this is what Alex residents are subjected to appeared first on KAYA 959.