Residents clash over illegal electricity connections
Residents at Tsakane Extension Six are angry at each other following illegal electricity connections in that area.
The atmosphere is tense in the area and the residents are not happy to such an extent that some of the neighbours do not talk to each other and it is all because of the different views expressed by residents concerning the illegal electricity connections.
It is said that some of the residents who own RDP houses in the area, those whose houses are not far from Emavageni area, have become ‘local electricity businessmen’ by allowing residents of Emavageni to illegally connect electricity from their homes.
According to one of the angry residents who is against the illegal connections, Margaret Buthelezi, this illegal act has robbed more than 20 people of their lives.
She said while the illegal electricity businessmen get rich through a monthly R150 fee that they charge residents of Emavageni to connect illegally to their homes, other families bury their loved ones who were electrocuted as the result of the electricity cables connected illegally.
The cables cross from the RDP houses to Emavageni.
Buthelezi said the illegal connections cost them more money as the electricity keeps switching off as a result of the unnecessary overloading caused by greedy residents who see the opportunity to get quick cash from desperate residents who live in shacks.
Following the meeting called by the residents two weeks ago, it was agreed that the cable supplying electricity to the RDP houses near Emavageni should be cut off by electricians in an attempt to prevent illegal electricity connections.
The cutting of the cable has left them without electricity for two weeks.
They depend on paraffin stoves to cook while their source of light during the night is candles.
“Buying candles has cost me more than I spend on electricity for a month,” sadly said Albert Sithole.
He urged their ward councillor Mtumeleni Ndita to help them have electricity again.
He also proposed a solution to fight against the illegal connections; that anyone found allowing illegal connections from his home should be punished by permanently cutting off his electricity.
Clr Ndita of ward 81 said he believes that the only solution that will end the illegal connections is providing residents in the informal settlements with temporary electricity.
He further said he is worried about the dangers that the exposed electricity cables pose to children and to the rest of the residents in the area
