Johannesburg - An effort to remove illegal electricity connections at Slovo, an informal settlement in Crosby, turned violent with some residents started attacking City Power officials with rocks.
As City Power officials started removing the cables, residents first insulted them then pelted them with rocks.
The community fought back saying officials were aware of the illegal connections. However, City Power was successful in removing the illegal connections.
City Power was supported by the South African Police Services, the Passengers Rail Agency of South Africa and private security as they clamped on illegal connections.
The power utility’s Isaac Mangena said Crosby and Mayfair were known for their illegal connections on hijacked buildings and informal settlements, meter bypassing by formal houses and businesses as infrastructure vandalism.
“At least nine businesses in Mayfair which include garage, butchers, restaurants, hardware, among others were found with illegal connections or bypassed meters.
“It is concerning that businesses, who make millions in revenue and can actually afford to pay for electricity, are the ones stealing from the City,” he said
“We urge residents to desist from tampering with electricity infrastructure, including bypassing our meters, vandalism or illegal connections.
“That may lead to the circuit malfunctioning resulting in customers experiencing surges, equipment shocking them, or lower than normal voltage,” he said.
Frans Makalela a resident of Slovo for the past 20 years said the community’s voices needed to heard as they were being continuously failed by officials who are supposed to speak on their behalf
“Every five years we vote but nothing changes. During winter we are forced to be without electricity which is inhuman. We have babies and young kids here who need to eat and stay warm, but no one is assisting us, with housing or electricity.”
Mangena said they would intensify the operations to raid businesses and other residential properties in the City.
The Star