Kanana informal settlement residents in Johannesburg watch as City Power workers removed 18,000 kilos of illegal connections on Wednesday. Photos: Silver Sibiya
BY Silver Sibiya first published here on GroundUp
- City Power technicians, with police and metro police, dismantled and removed about 18,000 kilos of illegal cables from Kanana informal settlement, Rabie Ridge on Wednesday. Many residents watched as the illegal connections were removed and shortly after the workers left, residents began reconnecting the cables.
- Kanana residents have been without formal electricity for 30 years, leading to illegal connections. Kanana is in an area deemed unsuitable for housing by the Department of Human Settlements. City Power is electrifying four informal settlements, but Kanana is not included this year.
- Resident Helen Dladla expressed frustration over the lack of electricity despite voting, saying residents had no choice but to make illegal connections. Another resident Kedibone Motswelahose stated willingness to pay R300 a month for formal electricity.Confidence Mashala claimed to have purchased electricity cables from a City Power employee for R2,500. City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena mentioned that cables were often stolen from streetlights.
- Mangena admitted the involvement of some City Power employees in illegal connections; some have been arrested. Last financial year saw 132 convictions for vandalism and illegal connections and Mangena criticized the lenient court sentences.
- City Power aims to reduce the load on strained networks and protect electricity infrastructure, and Mangena emphasized the need for harsher penalties for those involved in illegal connections.
