Damaged shacks and electrocution fear on 3rd Avenue
119 3rd Avenue residents say they have been subjected to hazardous living conditions since March 28, when a tree fell on top of their roofs and also damaged their electricity cables.
Alexandra residents who live on the 119 3rd Avenue say they have been subjected to hazardous living conditions for weeks. They allege that last month, City Parks employees were cutting the tree in their yard, when it fell on top of the nearby shacks, and further hit the electricity pole in their yard.
Read more: Fire guts 15 shacks in Alexandra
Since March 28, they have been maneuvering their homes cautiously in fear of being electrocuted by the live cables dangling dangerously low. Mbongiseni Mazibuko said the tree caused extensive damage to their houses, and furniture. He explained that when the tree fell on top of the shacks next to it, the roofs carved in and every piece of furniture they have inside broke. At the same time, it also hit an electric pole erected between the shacks.
“We had a huge a damage that was caused by that tree, it damaged the houses and affected electricity in the area. All these shacks were electrocuting. Since everything was shocking, we resolved that it is better for to it not be used because we are living in a hazardous condition.” He remarked, looking at the low-lying electric cables that are barely overhead.
He said when the workers left, they promised to return to attend the issue, but they did not come back. Although he had reached out to the City through leaders of numerous political parties, including ward 75 councillor Luvhawni Mavhona, he says the problem was left unattended.
Also read: Fire rips through shacks in Alexandra
On Tuesday, April 8, Simphiwe Dlamini reported that the situation had become unbearable. It had exacerbated to such an extent that they could not even get into the house without being electrocuted.
“Now it has become really dangerous. As we speak, we are standing outside because everything is electrocuting’” she said.
Mazibuko says they had to call City Power to cut off electricity from the pole, because they were experiencing electric shocks. “They switched the electricity off today. It was electrocuting. I was supposed to have brought these clothes inside the house, but I could not because of the electric shocks,” he notes, pointing out to the laundry stacked inside a waste bin.
He says although the main switch on the pole is off, the damage is done. “Everything got damaged, It’s hard. There is nothing we got out with. The wardrobes, beds, TVs and Cupboards were all damaged. It is messed up. We are appealing to anyone to help with anything they can. Because it is hard.”
On April 15, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo’s spokesperson Jenny Moodley said their employees were deployed to the area after they got a report of a tree that had fallen. However, she repudiated reports of their employees being negligent. Instead, she clarified that the information they have at their disposal suggests that the tree fell and damaged the houses before their workers started cutting it.
*The article has been updated to add Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo’s comment.
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