Power is set to seek a permanent solution to the problem of illegal connections in informal settlements.
The entity was concerned about the rate at which residents from informal settlements were connecting electricity illegally which cost the City R14 million in the 2014/15 financial year.
City Power, JMPD, Honeydew Police and Eskom teamed up in a joint operation to remove all the illegal connections in Zandspruit Informal Settlement on 7 March.
Some of the residents were infuriated and started rioting along Beyers Naudé Drive, a move which forced police to temporarily close the road.
Read previous story: WARNING: Avoid Beyers Naudé Drive
The entity has since sought a permanent solution to the scourge and the considered solution was the installation of 30 metre-high street light poles where the battery, inverter and fuses are located 10 metres above the ground, which is out of reach for residents.
According to a City Power statement, the connections caused electrocutions, which often resulted in fatalities, including children who unsuspectingly play around unsafe illegal cables.
“They also cause power outages, overload the system and render our power supply service unreliable,” explained Sydney Maphahlele from City Power Relationship Management.
The cables that were removed in Zandspruit weighed 13,300kg.
Following discussions between City Power and Eskom, led by the Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) Councillor Matshidiso Mfikoe, it was decided that residents will temporarily be relocated to allow Eskom to electrify Zandspruit.
“The Department of Housing has been hard at work trying to secure an alternative area where the residents of Zandspruit will be relocated, but this process has not been concluded yet,” he further explained.
The electrification of the area was part of Eskom’s 2016/17 electrification plan. Currently the project is in the design stage.
“I hope that we can continue working together to address these issues facing the industry. The extent to which we succeed in tackling these challenges hinges on the active cooperation of the utilities and other stakeholders including members of the public,” he concluded.
Details: City Power, 0800 002 587 or 011 490 7504.
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