Booysens community members unhappy about illegal electricity connections
Residents have mixed feelings about illegal connections.
ILLEGAL electricity connections are causing disputes among members of the Booysens informal settlement community.
Some residents don’t favour the idea of illegal electricity connections being set up as they believe it poses a great threat to children. The illegal connections are made from the Metrorail Booysens Train Station and run across the settlement’s small passages. Children love playing with these cables, which residents believe may lead to death.
While, on the other hand, other residents feel it’s right to use these illegal connections because they can’t survive without electricity. The COURIER was told without electricity, thugs go on a robbing spree and that puts their lives in danger.
“We want electricity. I do understand that children might get hurt so we must try by all means to caution them about these cables. Some of the children around the settlement rely on these illegal connections to study,” said a resident who is in favour of illegal connections.
Two residents almost engaged in a physical fight over these connections. One resident said, “This will end up being a massacre as already people are pointing fingers at each other.”
Some residents make use of these connections to run a business, cook and for other household necessities.
Ward 124 Councillor Mongameli Mnyameni told COURIER he is not aware of the illegal electricity connections happening in the settlement.
COURIER is waiting for Metrorail’s spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng for a response.
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