REPORT ILLEGAL ELECTRICITY THEFT _ Journalismiziko
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Eskom hosted a National Safety Week campaign to educate communities about the dangers of illegal electricity connections and unsafe electricity usage. According to Eskom officials, lives are lost yearly due to illegal connections and unsafe practices, which often affect children under 10 and adults over 45. At the Highflats area in iXopo, there is a high rate of illegal connections as residents have waited a long time for the municipality to provide electricity services. While some residents connected electricity illegally out of necessity, officials warn that illegal connections endanger lives and ask the public to report such activity.
REPORT ILLEGAL ELECTRICITY THEFT _ Journalismiziko
- 1. 8/26/2015 REPORT ILLEGAL ELECTRICITY THEFT | Journalismiziko http://journalismiziko.dut.ac.za/currentaffairs/reportillegalelectricitytheft/ 1/3 REPORT ILLEGAL ELECTRICITY THEFT News — 26 August 2015 By: Nhlanhla Mthembu Eskom’s national electricity safety campaign warned communities about dangers of illegal connection in the area at Hightflats in iXopo, on Thursday. Eskom’s aim in hosting the National Safety Week is to educate communities about the basics of safe electricity usage and the risks of electricity theft, including meter tampering, bypassing and illegal connections. According to Phumla Siswana, senior advisor in occupational hygiene and safety at EskomKwazuluNatal, lives are lost yearly as a result of illegal connections and unsafe use of electricity in the area. “Injuries and fatalities are contact with lowhanging electrodes, unsafe connections vandalism, illegal power connections and cable theft, mostly children under 10 years and people above 45 years are in danger and affected,” said Siswana. According to local council, Highflats only consists of at least 1000 people but there is a high rate of illegal connection made in the area. Residents said that they have sent numerous requests to the municipality and have waited for far too long for the electricity project to start. “We decided to illegally connect electricity because we have waited for so long for municipal to respond to our request. With help from people who some are in municipality, we are able to have electricity,” said a resident whose name was withheld for his safety. Local councillor, Nicolas Mdunge said that people are not allowed to reside in this particular Highflats area, people live illegally and that is why they have many concerns that are slowly being attended to. “Municipal is aware about the situation in the area. We have recently negotiated 500 units (in the) area that will be able to accommodate them. Meanwhile we appeal to people to report and stop illegal connection before there is another fatality,” said Cllr Mdunge. Eskom encouraged the public to report illegal electricity connections to 08600 37566 or 0800 112 722 or report electricity theft to Operation Khanyisa by sending an SMS to Crime Line on 32211. RELATED ARTICLES SHARE RECENT POSTS SA WOMAN MAY ESCAPE YEMEN HELL REPORT ILLEGAL ELECTRICITY THEFT WOMEN STILL FACE DIFFICULTIES IN THE WORLD OF ART USEFUL LINKS Durban University of Technology HIV Aids News Iziko Facebook Page izikonews META Log in Entries RSS Comments RSS WordPress.org HOME CONTACT US ABOUT US MEET THE TEAM News Lifestyle Features Sports Iziko Live