Nellmapius residents fight over electricity connections
“We never experienced electricity power cuts up until these settlements started growing in our area back in 2018."
The clash between residents of Nellmapius extension 24 and a nearby informal settlement over electricity issues has intensified.
Nellmapius residents said they are living in fear because “neighbouring residents” threaten their properties and lives if they try to prevent them from making illegal electrical connections.
Maria Zandemela (63) from Nellmapius said, “we are experiencing power cuts almost daily”.
“We never experienced electricity power cuts up until these settlements started growing in our area back in 2018.
“Since then the number of shacks has increased causing more power cuts,” Zandemela said.
“Several meetings were held with neighbouring residents to try and resolve the electricity problem, but the meetings end with a fight.
ALSO READ: No bail say Nelmapius residents outside court
“Sometimes we end up fighting with stones and chasing one another.”
“The informal settlement residents have tools to create illegal connections,” Zandemela alleged.
The affected streets experiencing power cuts are Brakdoring, Inthateli, Chela and Mtitinyane streets.
Another resident, Emmah Mothapo, said they didn’t mind if everyone had electricity but then it should all be above board.
“Groceries are thrown away because they are damaged during outages,” she said.
“We are paying for monthly services from the metro but the power we are paying for is taken away by force,” said Mothapo.
Faith Madiseng (30), who was eight months pregnant, claimed she lost her baby after she was attacked by someone who was trying to create an illegal connection next to her home.
ALSO READ: VIDEO: More suspected car thieves arrested in Centurion
Charles Mlungu, a diabetic, said his medication must always be in a refrigerator but continuous power cuts placed his life in danger.
Mlungu said they were fighting with informal settlement residents because “they want to illegally connect power from our meter box”.
He said the illegal connection caused power failures “and as residents of extension 24 who are paying for the services, we cannot take this anymore”.
The Tshwane metro had yet to provide comment by our time of publication.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
