Illegal electricity connections make sparks fly in Themba

GEORGE NEWS - About 50 families in formal housing in Zone 8, Thembalethu, were left without electricity on Tuesday 31 March when electricians who were working in the area were pelted with stones and had to withdraw.

Due to ongoing animosity between those who are legally connected and those who are not, the police had accompanied the electricians. However, when the repairs were nearing completion and there was no visible threat the police moved on, upon which opportunistic residents started throwing stones.

George Municipality has reiterated that it cannot subject staff and essential service providers to ongoing threats of violence and it cannot make repairs or disconnect illegal connections during unrest.

Residents who live near informal settlements in Zone 8 and Asazani in Thembalethu have been complaining about illegal electricity connections in their areas for a long time. A resident who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, said the matter has been reported to the police and the municipality repeatedly has to come back to disconnect the illegal connections, but illegal connections are just made again at night.

The resident said those who are legally connected suffer the most, because their electricity goes off all the time. "We have to make sure we cook before six o'clock. Electricity becomes a problem when everyone is back from work, and this affects our electrical appliances. We even fear for our children because these cables are not safe".

Illegal connections have long been a bone of contention between established and informal residents.

When George Herald asked a resident of the informal settlement about these allegations, she said, "What are we supposed to do? We also need electricity and we are going to connect until the municipality connects electricity for us too".