OFFICIALS in Cape Town moved around informal settlements in the Philippi area on Wednesday, 15 March to remove illegal electricity connections.
Working with the police and City Law Enforcement, an operation was carried out and removed one truckload of illegally connected cables to the city's supply infrastructure.
Energy MMC Beverly Van Reenen said they were serious about protecting their critical infrastructure and the community.
“We will not tolerate electricity vandalism which impacts on the supply to residents. Illegal connections leave the whole communities in darkness due to the overloaded connections that trip.
"Exposed live wires are also unsafe, often placing the lives of children at risk,” Van Reenen said.
She said Philippi and Mitchells Plain are hotspots of illegal connections and vandalism.
"The city wishes to be clear. We will not allow these acts of criminality to have an impact on the supply to residents,” Van Reenen said.
Mbulelo Mkhumle (34), a resident from Malema informal settlement, said it is unfair for the officials to take away their izinyoka.
“We have been without electricity, but they could not assist us. Now we have found ways to install electricity in our shacks, they come and take everything.
ALSO READ: Lesego (19) locks family in the house, disappears
“This is not acceptable. We will buy cables and connect our shacks again. They are just taking our cables without giving us properly connected electricity,” he said.
Mfuleni community leader Mvuseleli Gongxeka (46) said he wishes the operation could happen in his area.
“The newly established Phola Park informal settlement has made our lives difficult. Their izinyoka cause our electricity to trip every day.
"Sometimes they have electricity while our power is off. They illegally connect to the transformers meant for our houses,” he said.
