Illegal electricity connections at a squatter camp on invaded housing plots in Kraaifontein are causing tensions between the homeowners and the squatters.

Some homeowners at Goliath Estate, between Kipling and Mostert streets, say the illegal connections are, in some cases, leaving them without power for several weeks.

The latest power outage happened two weeks ago, according to the homeowners.

On Tuesday, Northern News arrived in the area to find police and City Law enforcement officers deployed around City staff who were disconnecting illegal connections from street lights.

Homeowner Desire Hendricks said the illegal connections had been a problem for more than five years.

“We would run for two to three weeks without electricity and that made us fed up,” she said. “I’m a ratepayer, and so why must I suffer to get electricity? I have my box and I pay for the electricity.”

The problem had caused tripping on her main fuse board and she had had to call the municipality to fix it, she said.

“The Goliath Estate is privately owned land where a number of illegal connections have been found,” said mayoral committee member for energy Beverley van Reenen, adding that they placed “tremendous” strain on the electricity grid and damaged power supplies in the community.

She urged the public to report illegal connections to the police.

Several attempts to get comment from police on the matter were unsuccessful.

However, the squatters claim they have a right to live at the site and receive basic services as some of them had been born there. Without electricity, there was a greater danger of shack fires because people used candles, they said.

“I have been staying here for seven years now,” said Mark Ram. “Nobody has taken time to come and look for basic needs here. We are asking for electricity to cook, it is not too much that we are asking for. They remove our electricity, but they do not have the plan to replace it for us. This place is burning down, and it is a bigger problem because of the candlelights. There is a shack that burnt twice in the last three months.”

Susanna Smith said people in the settlement were easy prey for criminals when there was no electricity. They were prepared to move to somewhere with water, electricity and toilets, she added.

Ward councillor Rhynhardt Bressler tabled a motion at a Sub-council 2 meeting on Wednesday January 18, for the City to determine whether the settlement was legal, remove illegal electricity connections, find land for housing and sign up qualifying residents in the settlement for housing projects.

“Erven 33, 32, 31 and 30 with a total of 7188m² are situated alongside each other. There are arrears applicable. Some of the properties are illegally invaded,” he said, adding that erf 27 of 1822m² and erf 29 of 2018m² had also been invaded.

“These occupants now illegally connect to the overhead bundle causing the electricity breakers to trip, causing even the private owners in Goliath Estate to not have electricity.

“These owners demand that the electricity they pay for be provided, but the electricity department can only act on removing the connection if they have the protection from Law Enforcement,” he said.

Last month, according to mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith, about 80 protesters from the squatter camp burnt tyres and disrupted morning traffic along Darwin Road after City staff disconnected illegal electricity connections in the area.

A community activist in the settlement, Solly Gordon said: “My proposal is that the parties involved must come to the table and find a peaceful solution. I will monitor the challenges that the community is facing, and I appeal to my people, family members and the community of Goliath Estate to respect our constitution and the rule of law.”

Police officers speak to disgruntled residents of the Goliath Estate informal settlement. Picture: Sibulele Kasa.

A City Law Enforcement vehicle was stationed at the Goliath Estate informal settlement while municipal workers disconnected illegal electricity connections. Picture: Sibulele Kasa.

Mark Ram says the settlement is desperate for electricity. Picture: Sibulele Kasa

Susanna Smith says residents of the informal settlement are prepared to move to somewhere with basic services. Picture: Sibulele Kasa.

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