Children exposed to live electric cables

Residents are warned about the dangers of illegal electricity connections after The Tembisan witnessed children playing near a stinking furrow where an illegal power connection was passing through to shacks in Ivory Park.

Residents illegally redirect electricity from power lines or nearby households into their shacks by digging up the roads and installing ordinary cables.

Their desperation to have power led residents to illegally connect electricity.

This places their own lives, and that of innocent adults and children, in danger.

The Tembisan spotted the children and asked why they were playing next to the electric cable.

One child said they do not have any other space to play.

“This is next to my home and I cannot play inside. I have to play with friends outside and the street is our playing area,” he added.

The Tembisan then approached an adult resident who wished to remain anonymous.

The resident said illegal power connections are a way of life in the area.

“I know what we are doing is illegal but we do not have a choice because we also need electricity for survival. We are tired of being affected by paraffin smoke when using primus stoves. We get infections easily because of it. We are also not protected from the primus stove as it can explode and our shacks can burn down,” she said.

She added that they registered for houses in 1996, but are still waiting for a house.