RESIDENTS of Waterworks squatter camp, south of Joburg, thought it was load shedding when their lights went out yesterday.
But it wasn’t.
City Power officials, accompanied by cops and Prasa officials, disconnected izinyoka in the area.
Wires were taken from street poles and some houses in the Lenasia CBD.
Some residents told Daily Sun it wasn’t fair.
“This is the only way we get light in our homes,” said resident Joseph Mbatha (37).
“Using paraffin and candles is a struggle. Illegal connections are dangerous, but they are less dangerous than a primus stove.”
He said people have died in squatter camps because of fires started by primus stoves or candles.
City Power spokesman Isaac Mangena told Daily Sun illegal connections were costing the city about R2 billion a year.
“This operation will continue. We will strike when they least expect it,” he said.
He said it was not only squatter camps that had illegal connections.
“Even in suburbs like Sandton, there are illegal connections, and big companies also do this. We are coming for them as well,” he said.
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