Izinyoka connections pose a threat to Orlando residents
Many fear that the illegal connections would claim yet another life
The lack of electricity in informal settlements leads people to explore alternative ways of warming their homes-many of them illegal.
The reality is that they expose themselves to dangerous and potentially fatal situations as many employ the services of izinyoka to ensure that they have access to electricity. South Africa’s power  utility, Eskom is always out to educate communities about the dangers of illegal connections.
Izinyoka, who provide illegal connections to homes and in many informal settlements across the country, have been identified as the major causes behind the shack fires which have become a prominent feature of informal settlement life after countless lives have been claimed in electrical fires resulting from illegal connections.
Parents and the School Governing Body of  learner at Lofentse Girls High School like Pinky Moticoe live in fear for their children’s lives because of  illegal connections running from the school to the nearby informal settlement..
Moticoe said that on  May 12 the cables burst into flames. She added that God only knows what would have happened to the children if this occurred was during the week. Her main concern is that for years, the cables have been uncovered and that she could not understand why the school was sharing an electricity box with four houses as well as the station.
According to Moticoe they tried covering the cables with bricks but their efforts have not eliminated the danger the exposed wiring poses. Nkosana Sibuyi said as Eskom they would like to condemn illegal connections because it is a dander to the society and can lead to grievous bodily harm or death.
He requested that people  approach the area with caution and appealed to the community to do away with illegal connections. Sibuyi added that they didn’t want residents to be subjected to any danger by tampering with the wiring. A similar case occurred in Nomzamo settlement earlier this year which claimed one life, yet people still continue tampering with the cables.
Sibuyi said they have public training about the issue and conduct regular door-to-door visits to educate the community about the dangers of illegal connections. He asked residents to report illegal connections by dialling 086003566.
