Illegal electricity connections in Umzinto could prove deadly
Time and again, locals see the police and Eskom officials removing the cables, but after a few days, they’re back in place.
There are many informal settlements throughout the mid-South Coast which are known to have illegal electricity connections.
One such settlement in the Umzinto area is in Textile Road going into Hazelwood, just past OK Foods.
Many of these illegally connected wires are exposed and this is a concern as there are a large number of people living nearby. If one of these exposed wires is touched, it could prove fatal.
Gandhinagar resident, Meldon Kannah, said that he travelled through Hazelwood quite frequently, and had on many occasions seen children playing close to these illegal connections.
“If cables are not hanging from the trees or poles, they’re on the ground which is dangerous not only to pedestrians, but to motorists and even animals,” said Mr Kannah.
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This area has always had a problem with electricity theft. Time and again, locals see the police and Eskom officials removing the cables, but after a few days, they’re back in place.
Eskom was informed about the current illegal connections and have taken note of the matter.
Everyone is urged to report infrastructure theft, vandalism, illegal connections and other forms of electricity theft by sending an anonymous SMS to Crime Line at 32211 ( R1 per SMS), via the Crime Line website www.crimeline.co.za or to the toll-free Eskom reporting line at 0800 112 722
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