Power theft has been an ongoing problem in Boksburg for some time and is becoming widespread and increasingly brazen.
Of late, a number of motorists have raised their concerns about the live illegal wires which criss-cross over Wit Deep Road in Jerusalem and Delmore informal settlements to provide electricity to thousands of shacks in the area.
The apparent crisis over electricity recently resulted in Reiger Park and Joe Slovo informal settlement residents clashing.
According to Reiger Park SAPS spokesperson Const Jan Mokwana fed-up residents of Reiger Park decided to take matters into their own hands and removed the illegal connections in Joe Slovo on October 11.
“They disconnected all the power cables used by the residents of the informal settlement, located on St Anthony’s Road, to steal electricity from the township’s electricity infrastructure,” said Mokwana.
The community’s action, however, did not sit well with the people of the informal settlement who the following morning proceeded to the power lines to illegally reconnect electricity.
In Joe Slovo informal settlement, Ward 34 councillor Charlie Crawford complained that electricity thieves illegally connected cables from the electricity boxes and street lights to their shacks, causing perpetual blackouts. This has caused live cables to be sprawled in the streets, posing a danger to residents, children in particular.
One concerned resident said the problem is not the people in the informal settlement who steal electricity, but poor governance and the continuing corruption.
“People in the informal settlement and many other communities suffer because of corruption and poor management, which in turn contribute to the government’s lack of ability to fulfil certain roles. There is a pressing need for improvements in governance in the municipalities and national government,” said the resident.
He warned that disregarding the theft of electricity is creating a terrible situation because those who are paying for electricity are most likely to resort to similar tactics of obtaining free electricity.
During a recent protest against constant power outages in Reiger Park, Quinton Adolph and Crawford were among the community members who expressed dissatisfaction and frustrations with the way the municipality is dealing with the power problems.
They said the cable theft has become a menace to the well-being of residents and the township economy.
Adolph said people in all the nearby informal settlements are connecting electricity illegally and the government is turning a blind eye.
He said he believes the government is afraid they will lose votes if they disconnect the illegal connections.
He also echoed Crawford’s remarks that the mayor promised to electrify all the informal settlement, but has failed to deliver on his promises.
A Joe Slovo informal settlement resident, who asked to remain anonymous, admitted that the “desperate community”, consisting of more than 1 000 shacks, steals electricity by illegally connecting from power boxes, high mast lights and street light poles.
The resident, however, refuted the claims that their illegal activities have resulted in the perpetual blackouts in the entire township.
He said the cause of the power outages is caused by cable thieves who target a power substation in the veld along St Anthony’s Road.
“People from our community can’t steal the cables because they know that they too will be left without power. The thieves come from outside areas. It’s not our people,” said the resident.
The resident added that although they are aware that what they are doing is against the law and puts their lives in serious danger, stealing power is the only cheapest option they have.
“Connecting illegally is the only means at our disposal to avoid expensive paraffin and candles. Paraffin and candles have also proven to be the most dangerous as they have in the past resulted in a number of shack fires in the area.”
The resident insisted that shack fire incidents have decreased since the start of illegal connections.
The residents also admitted that the community rejected the metro’s offer to install solar power systems.
“We told them that the solar power is inadequate and not enough to meet our needs. Its power is not enough for cooking, doesn’t provide enough lighting and can be easily stolen by thieves,” he said.
The resident condemned the battle between the two communities.
“We also want electricity like those living in Reiger Park. We also want to pay for our electricity and that is why we have for years been asking authorities to provide legal power connection so that we can also pay for what we use.”
The resident also revealed that there are several groups of ‘entrepreneurs’ who have taken advantage of the situation to charge residents R30 connection fee and R30 per month for the maintenance of the power network.
During the fights between the communities of Reiger Park and Joe Slovo, some opportunists reportedly broke into St Anthony’s Education Centre and stole computers.
Joe Swartz, one of the community leaders in Reiger Park, said: “The community’s biggest concern is the illegal connections that have affected residents severely. Four times a week there is always a power outage due to power cables that are stolen.
“To address such grievances, the community decided to take matters into their own hands and remove the illegal connections connected by Joe Slovo residents. What has sparked war is that the mayor responds to the pleas of the Joe Slovo residents.”
Crawford, said: “The mayor has promised residents of Joe Slovo that he will electrify the informal settlement but he didn’t tell them about the process of re-blocking.
“I have engaged the mayor’s office about the situation in my ward but they haven’t come to address the residents.
“On October 12 residents were promised that a representative from the mayor’s office will address the residents from Joe Slovo and Reiger Park but they never did.
“According to residents of Joe Slovo, they are not the ones stealing the cables. The situation is calm and since October 16 the patrollers and stationary guards hired by the metro have been guarding those cables 24/7.”
ALSO READ:
Reiger Park community protest against constant power outages
Watch: Violent confrontation erupts in Reiger Park
Follow us:
For more #hyperlocal news at your fingertips, visit Benoni City Times, Springs Advertiser, Brakpan Herald, African Reporter and Kathorus Mail.
