Illegal electricity connections

[The_Ogre]

So I had a look at someone's connection to the street pole in a squatter camp.

From the street, it goes to their house, an extension is then used to power two other shacks on the same property. Another extension is then used from one of these properties to power another shack on a different property.

If the first property has a problem. the other 3 shacks have no power.

When it rains the power shorts out at the pole and a switch needs to be flipped at the street cabinet about 500 meters away.

Further, all these cables are running like 20cm underground and these people all use those two-plate stoves, heaters, etc so there's quite a bit of current flowing through those cables.

I cannot help but think that someone is going to die and some shacks burned down so just posting this because I found it interesting that they don't care about the dangers.

I'm not 100% sure if it's related, but my laptop charger actually popped. Maybe it was it's time, or maybe it has something to do with the power.

 

[3WA]

The message is out there:

City Power warns about illegal electricity connections after 2 children trip on live wire and die | News24

At least 21 electrocution cases were reported in the City of Johannesburg in the past two years, with six reported this year.

www.news24.com

Gauteng boy, 11, killed after stepping on loose wires from illegal electricity connection | News24

An 11-year-old boy has been killed after stepping on wires from an illegal electricity connection in Orange Farm, Eskom says.

www.news24.com

The community balances the risk and reward, and they've made their decision.

 

[epah]

Has been happening for years, children have been dying for years from the connections, But it looks like electricity is just more important to some people. sad really.

 

[3WA]

Has been happening for years, children have been dying for years from the connections, But it looks like electricity is just more important to some people. sad really.

I mean, if I had to choose between having electricity (not necessarily illegal connection) and the safety and well-being of the neighbourhood kids, I wouldn't have to think twice.

 

[PsyWulf]

So I had a look at someone's connection to the street pole in a squatter camp.

From the street, it goes to their house, an extension is then used to power two other shacks on the same property. Another extension is then used from one of these properties to power another shack on a different property.

If the first property has a problem. the other 3 shacks have no power.

When it rains the power shorts out at the pole and a switch needs to be flipped at the street cabinet about 500 meters away.

Further, all these cables are running like 20cm underground and these people all use those two-plate stoves, heaters, etc so there's quite a bit of current flowing through those cables.

I cannot help but think that someone is going to die and some shacks burned down so just posting this because I found it interesting that they don't care about the dangers.

I'm not 100% sure if it's related, but my laptop charger actually popped. Maybe it was it's time, or maybe it has something to do with the power.

There's a thriving business for cabling and recabling these communities
Couple hundys to a grand per house,they clearly have money for something

 

[spiff]

There's a thriving business for cabling and recabling these communities
Couple hundys to a grand per house,they clearly have money for something

yes and a dstv dish

 

[Cius]

Its a deadly game, and a massive failure of the ANC. Easy for us in our middle class lives to judge these people but living without electricity is very different to having it. I suspect most of us would happily do an illegal connection if we where in their shoes as it is probably the only way they can get it on the pittance they live on. The real solution is to fix education and the economy of course but the ANC has over the last 13 years only ever moved backwards, or at best stagnated in those departments.

 

[Y'all Qaeda]

I mean, if I had to choose between having electricity (not necessarily illegal connection) and the safety and well-being of the neighbourhood kids, I wouldn't have to think twice.

Power in your home and silence in the neighbourhood - why aren't we funding this?

 

[zll]

Has been happening for years, children have been dying for years from the connections, But it looks like electricity is just more important to some people. sad really.

This is why poor people have so many kids. So they don't feel so bad if one of them steps on a live wire and dies. /s

 

[zll]

There's a thriving business for cabling and recabling these communities
Couple hundys to a grand per house,they clearly have money for something

In Soweto they often claim its the Eskom contractors who will do this if you are willing to pay them under the table.

 

[PsyWulf]

In Soweto they often claim its the Eskom contractors who will do this if you are willing to pay them under the table.

It is often indeed,believe much of Eskom's teams are "contractors" as well,so they aren't shy to to sidegigs

 

[epah]

This is why poor people have so many kids. So they don't feel so bad if one of them steps on a live wire and dies. /s

AH you bad boy.

 

[Ferog]

The world is overpopulated, if there are illegal connections then I hope they do die.