Wallacedene protesters call for electricity after man electrocuted
Illegal electricity connections are putting lives at risk in Wallacedene's F-20 shanty town, say residents who held a protest on Monday demanding electricity and other basic services.
The protest, by about 100 people at the traffic circle along the Botfontein Road, came after a man was fatally electrocuted in the settlement on Monday July 17.
Lonwabo Thwabanyana was trying to stop a shack fire from spreading, according to the protesters.
“He heard people screaming that a shack was on fire, and he went to help at the scene. He was cutting the electric wires so that the fire does not go to other shacks, but he was electrocuted as a result,” said his aunt, who did not want to be named.
City Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Jermaine Carelse said SAPS escorted fire crews from Bellville, Brackenfell and Kraaifontein to the scene of the shack fire in Gumede Street where they found the body of an electrocuted man at 6.50am.
The fire was put out at 7.30am and the area cordoned off, he said.
Police did not respond to questions from Northern News.
F-20 residents said they had been asking for electricity since 2018, but the City had not taken them seriously.
In response, the City said in a statement that its officials had met with the residents and it took their grievances seriously.
"This is an Eskom-supplied area, but the City is engaging on all matters raised. The City has an open-door policy and members of the community are always encouraged to approach the City in good faith, in a peaceful and constructive manner.“
Several attempts to get comments from Eskom were unsuccessful.
F-20 community activist Zama Nadatile said residents risked getting shocked if they touched metal sheeting on some shacks due to illegal connections.
“We feel like we are forsaken because ever since we arrived here, we were only provided with water taps that are not even enough to serve the whole area. In these five years, we don't see any change or anything done for us. We don't have proper toilets. But the main thing that we want is electricity,” she said.
