Load-reduction schedule excludes white dominant Vryheid

The IFP-led municipality of AbaQulusi in Northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is under fire for visiting apartheid on its black townships.

- By Bongani Mdakane

Drama erupted when municipal manager Sbonga Dlamini wrote to the communities, in IsiZulu, indicating that the municipality would implement power cuts from September 8, 2025 to May 2026, from 5pm to 9pm and 5am to 9am daily. But the areas targeted are where black people live.

The angry residents of Mondlo, Shoba, Hlobane, Ngoje, Coronationville, Cliffdale and Vaalbank responded by accusing Dlamini of targeting them only because they are black during a protest.

Communities, which comprise about 14 000 households, also claimed that the area not included in the load-reduction schedule was the white residential area of Vryheid.

This triggered civil organisation Izwi Labantu Forum to complain to the municipality and it even brought in its lawyers to the fight. Forum chairperson Norma Mbatha said it was contentious that the IFP-led council was targeting only black communities.