WATCH: City Power disconnects illegal electricity connections at property with 31 rooms on it
Councillor Rashieda Landis said: “The house is not conducive for any human beings."
THE electricity of the property which consists of 31 single rooms with small alleys in between in De Villiers Street, Turffontein, has been disconnected after several attempts in doing so by local authorities.
The illegal connections were reported to City Power which came and disconnected the power almost a month after the residents in the area started experiencing power interruptions because of the said house.
Previously, City Power would come to disconnect the electricity and someone would allegedly just reconnect it again. Ward 55 councillor Rashieda Landis, City Power personnel, an urban inspector and JMPD descended on the premises on November 27 to make sure the electricity was off.
One resident of the same street, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she reported to the authority that the house has been connected to the electricity poles across the road.
“They dug a trench across the road and connected to the electricity pole.
“The electricity poles are connected to circuit breakers that are exposed.
“City Power cables on the pole have been pulled loose. Everybody on that property is living off our electricity and putting children’s lives in danger,” said the resident.
Francis Kanyemba, a caretaker at the house, said: “It’s been a month since I started this job and the owner comes once or twice a day to check.
“I don’t know much about the electricity connection, I’m here to guard the house.”
Landis said: “The house is not conducive for any human beings. The owner of these rooms should be held responsible for the failure of our infrastructure.
“There are no building plans, nor safety and security measures. This is A direct breach of our by-laws. Total disgrace and disregard for humanity.
“We will no longer tolerate this lawlessness. The law must take its course.”
The COURIER tried to contact the owner, but in vain. A number allegedly belonging to Enoch was on a paper stuck to a wall of the house. When called, he said he is only the middleman who rents out the rooms.
WATCH:
