City Power concerned about people in Alex building houses on important electricity networks

JOHANNESBURG - Johannesburg City Power said it’s concerned about the current situation in Alexandra, where people are building houses on important electric networks.

The power utility said this had often prevented technicians from being able to locate faults and carry out repairs timely.

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Spokesperson Isaac Mangena said this was why hundreds of homes at Extension 7, Tsutsumane, and Extension 8 have been without electricity for years.

Earlier this week, the ward councillor, Tefo Raphadu, carried out demolitions of structures to address the crisis.

Mangena said the issue of illegal housing developments ran across the city but could be solved with the aid of the housing department.

City Power said it had been warning the community of Alexandra Extension 7 for over ten years, following an incident where one of the pylons collapsed, a major hazard that could have resulted in the loss of life.

Aside from the illegal erection of buildings, the community of Tsustumane lives in ignorance of the dangers that surround their everyday life because of the desperation for a place to live.

"If currently we were supposed to access that tower behind me here, it means the truck won't be able to go in, and as such, it will probably prolong the time that it will take for us to be able to do the repairs," said Mangena.

While the power utility has distanced itself from the demolition of the houses, it said it could finally conduct repair work and restore electricity to areas that have been suffering for years.