Communities must protect electrical infrastructure
KwaThema - There are still illegal electricity connections in Extension Three despite the electrocution and death of a 45-year-old-woman on January 3.
It was reported in the African Reporter’s January 9 edition, ‘Innocent woman dies cause of illegal connection’ how the woman was electrocuted during a rain storm at an illegal connection at the corner of Madiba and Barwa streets.
Ward councillor Johannes Bosakwe said, at the time, that the tragic accident could have been prevented.
He said there was no electricity in the Marikana Section so residents connected the electricity illegally from Barwa Street.
According to Bosakwe, Red Ants had removed the connection in the past, but residents just reconnected the cables.
He added he reported the matter to the Ekurhuleni MMC of Water and Energy, Aubrey Nxumalo, but solutions to resolve the matter were delayed.
Resident Phindile Galela says she fears for her children’s lives as there are still illegal connections in the area and people are not talking about it.
Galela says the only solution to the problem is for electricity to be installed in Extension Three.
“I do not know whether a whole family must die before the matter is taken seriously,” says Galela.
Eskom says illegal connections are a social problem which can only be addressed if communities also play a role in protecting the electrical infrastructure to ensure reliable supply of electricity.
Eskom explains it runs continuous removals of illegal connections campaigns, but this does not help as these connections are re-instated the very same day of removal.
