Cape Town’s Loyiso Nkohla Village residents, relocated from railways to the R300 corridor, demand electricity and essential services after years of neglect. This in-depth report explores their struggle, systemic failures, and possible solutions.
Introduction
On a brisk Thursday morning in Cape Town, traffic along the R300 came to a sudden halt. Commuters fumed, motorists turned around, and police scrambled to restore order. At the center of the disruption stood a group of residents from Loyiso Nkohla Village, many carrying placards and shouting slogans. Their demand was simple yet urgent: electricity.
For over two years, this community, relocated from railway lines in Philippi East, has lived without proper access to power. Their plight tells a deeper story of displacement, unfulfilled promises, and systemic neglect that shapes life in South Africa’s informal settlements.
From the Rail Tracks to a Temporary Settlement
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of families occupied disused railway lines in Cape Town’s Philippi East and Nyanga areas. Many had lost jobs, housing, and security as the economy faltered. The railway land, though unsuitable for long-term habitation, provided a place to build makeshift shelters.
In 2022, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa initiated a relocation plan citing safety and operational concerns. Under Operation Bhekela, these families were moved to a parcel of land near Stock Road and the R300. The relocation site became known as Loyiso Nkohla Village, named after a local political activist.
Initially presented as a temporary measure, promising formal housing within 18 months, the settlement was never intended for permanent occupancy. Crucially, the land was not zoned for residential use, meaning no official installation of water, sanitation, or electricity.
Life in the Dark
In the absence of formal electricity, residents resorted to unsafe, improvised connections. They paid significant sums each month to tap into nearby informal grids, often sharing a single extension cord between multiple households.
The lack of lighting made evenings dangerous, particularly for women and children. Cooking and heating relied on paraffin stoves, which carry fire hazards and health risks. Parents worried about their children studying by candlelight.
“We are living like we don’t matter,” said community member Thandiwe Dlamini. “They moved us here, promised better living conditions, and now they ignore us. Every night is a risk.”
The Protest That Stopped the R300
On August 7, 2025, frustration reached its peak. Around 80 residents gathered early in the morning and blocked a major section of the R300 freeway near Stock Road. Some burned tyres, others used debris to halt traffic. The blockade lasted several hours before police dispersed the crowd.
Community leader Lizo Dlamini explained, “When they relocated us, they said we would only be here for 18 months. Now it’s been more than two years. We are paying just to have a light bulb in our homes. We feel abandoned.”
While disruptive, the protest succeeded in drawing attention to the community’s situation. Yet, as in many past demonstrations across Cape Town, immediate solutions remained elusive.
Government Response and Jurisdictional Tangles
The City of Cape Town’s official position is that the land is not zoned for human settlement, and therefore the municipality cannot legally provide electricity infrastructure. The City has provided limited interim services, such as water tanks and refuse collection, to alleviate hardship.
The agency responsible for the relocation maintains that the move was necessary to restore passenger rail services and reduce vandalism. Officials insist that housing responsibility now lies with other government departments.
This bureaucratic passing of responsibility has left Loyiso Nkohla Village in limbo. Each agency points to another for solutions while residents endure the consequences.
A History of Service Delivery Protests in Cape Town
The R300 is no stranger to protest action. Over the past decade, informal settlement residents have repeatedly taken to the freeway to demand basic services.
In November 2020, protesters from multiple communities blocked both the R300 and the N2, citing lack of water and toilets. In June 2024, Loyiso Nkohla Village residents staged a similar blockade over water shortages.
These protests reflect a broader pattern where, when formal channels fail, communities resort to visible and disruptive demonstrations as a last resort to be heard.
The Human Toll
Living without electricity is not merely an inconvenience, it shapes every aspect of daily life.
- Education: Children struggle to complete homework in poor lighting.
- Safety: Unlit streets and homes increase vulnerability to crime.
- Health: Cooking with paraffin or open flames heightens the risk of respiratory illness and burns.
- Economic Opportunity: Lack of power hinders home-based businesses and access to digital resources.
Community members report feeling trapped with no clear timeline for permanent housing or infrastructure.
Urban Planning and the Zoning Dilemma
One of the core obstacles lies in urban planning policy. South African cities have strict zoning regulations that determine how land can be used. Rezoning land for housing can be a slow process, often requiring environmental assessments, public participation, and budget approvals.
In the case of Loyiso Nkohla Village, the decision to relocate residents to unzoned land created a legal dead end. While the City can provide temporary relief services, it cannot install formal infrastructure without rezoning approval.
Why This Matters Beyond Loyiso Nkohla Village
This is not an isolated incident. Across South Africa, relocation projects often fail to deliver on promised timelines, leaving vulnerable communities in limbo. The challenges are compounded by fragmented governance, budget constraints, and political tensions over accountability.
If unresolved, such cases undermine public trust and fuel further unrest.
Looking Ahead: Possible Solutions
Several steps could address the crisis:
- Interim Electrification: Installing safe, temporary electricity connections under emergency provisions.
- Accelerated Rezoning: Fast-tracking zoning changes for sites with long-term occupation.
- Clear Intergovernmental Agreements: Defining which agency takes responsibility for services in relocation sites.
- Community Involvement: Including residents in decision-making to ensure that solutions meet their real needs.
- Housing Pipeline Transparency: Publishing timelines for formal housing allocation to relocated families.
One instructive example comes from Durban’s eThekwini Municipality, which piloted an “Emergency Electrification” programme for informal settlements, showing that safety and legality can coexist in interim arrangements. More information on similar initiatives can be found here:
GroundUp – Relocated railway occupiers protest for basic services
Rail Relocations and Community Displacement
The relocation of families from Cape Town’s rail reserves was initially presented as a safety measure to protect both passengers and infrastructure. However, these rail relocations often displace vulnerable communities without adequate preparation for their resettlement. In the case of Loyiso Nkohla Village, residents were moved from the rail tracks into a settlement lacking basic services. Without proper planning, such moves create new humanitarian challenges while failing to address the underlying causes of informal rail occupations.
Rail Infrastructure and Urban Development Gaps
Rail corridors in South Africa are not only critical for passenger transport but also intersect with densely populated informal areas. When communities occupy rail land, it reflects deeper housing shortages and economic pressures. Addressing these issues requires integrated urban planning that considers both the operational needs of the rail network and the human rights of those living nearby. Failure to integrate housing and rail policies results in repeated cycles of eviction, relocation, and renewed protests.
Rail Safety Versus Human Livelihoods
Authorities often justify removing people from rail reserves by citing safety concerns, including the risk of accidents and vandalism. While these concerns are valid, they must be balanced against the livelihoods of those who depend on living near transport hubs for economic survival. For many residents, proximity to the rail line meant easier access to markets, jobs, and public transport. Any rail safety plan should therefore include comprehensive social support to prevent relocated families from falling deeper into poverty.
Conclusion
The August 2025 protest on the R300 was more than a traffic disruption, it was a desperate call for dignity, equality, and the basic right to electricity. Loyiso Nkohla Village’s struggle underscores a wider challenge facing South Africa’s cities: how to bridge the gap between relocation and real service delivery.
Until agencies coordinate effectively and act decisively, such protests will likely continue. For the families living in darkness beside the R300, the hope is simple: that their voices will not fade into the noise of bureaucracy, but spark the light they have been waiting for.
