Another suburb sabotaged with illegal connections
Electricity theft and an illegal electricity grid in Princess informal settlement growing by the day.
A public meeting has been set after yet another substation was connected to the illegal grid to Princess informal settlement this weekend.
The illegal connections made over the weekend has caused residents of Westgate Park and specifically Pannevis Street to be without electricity in excess of 20 hours.
Councillors Gert Niemand (Ward 71) and Carl Mann (Ward 85) had called a meeting at the site this morning (Monday 21 September) to discuss possible solutions with the sector police, JMPD and City Power. Only Sector 2 police pitched alongside residents to discuss the issues. According to the councillors City Power used an operation in Zandspruit this morning to excuse themselves.
“These fruitless meetings mean that we gather all the complaints but cannot discuss a way forward,” Niemand told the Record.
The pair listened to residents’ complaints and Ward 71 urban inspector Caroline Minie started logging faults on their behalf.
Allegedly the connections were made over the weekend after Roodepoort Police removed connections at another substation up the road last week.
“They’ve now started targeting a new suburb. These connections lead to Plot 229 through the swamp, the water and rain making it even more dangerous” Niemand explained.
“Mostly elderly residents reside here, I’ve had a complaint of one elderly woman who is absolutely reliant on her oxygen tank.”
Mann handed out a petition to enraged residents which will be handed over to the City of Johannesburg once complete.
A public meeting about the issue is set for Tuesday 6 October at the Pelindaba Chamber of the Roodepoort Civic Centre at 100 Christiaan de Wet Road, Florida Park from 6pm. Residents are urged to attend so the matter can be resolved. For more information contact Gert Niemand on 078 743 9681 or via email at ticket@polka.co.za or Carl Mann on 072 616 2025 or via email at carl@ward85jhb.co.za
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