TEMBISA SHUTDOWN: RESIDENTS BLOCK TOWNSHIP OVER ELECTRICITY TARIFFS
Residents of Tembisa staged a total shutdown on Monday morning, 21 July 2025, by blocking all entrances and exits to the township in protest against the City of Ekurhuleni’s newly approved fixed electricity tariffs for the 2025/2026 financial year.
Frustrated by the sudden increase, residents took to the streets at dawn, saying they were not consulted about the decision and that the new tariffs will place an unbearable financial burden on already struggling households.
All major roads, including key access points to and from the R21 highway, were barricaded with burning tyres and debris, causing significant traffic disruptions during peak hours. The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) was deployed to the area and used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds.
By 09:00, tensions had subsided and traffic was flowing smoothly again, with EMPD remaining on the scene to monitor the situation. Most barricades had been cleared.
Despite the calm, residents insist this is only the beginning unless the City reverses the tariff hikes.
“They cannot make decisions that affect our pockets without asking us. We will not accept it,” said one protestor.
The City of Ekurhuleni has not yet issued a statement.
This is a developing story.
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