Whilst it is common knowledge that the illegal connection of electricity is rife in Itireleng, authorities are seemingly scared to go into the area and disconnect the connections, by ripping off and confiscating the illegally connected electric cables.
However, what is more disturbing, is that by not taking the appropriate action against those connecting electricity illegally, the lives of the community, especially children, who play in the area, are at risk. Over time, the Laudium Sun has reported on a number of incidents in Itireleng, whereby children and even adults have been electrocuted, due to live wires dangling around, as a result of illegal electricity connections. Clearly the area of Itireleng is fast becoming a “free zone of lawlesness”, where crime is committed in the open by gangs of thugs, who attack the residents as they please, especially vulnerable women, with local police scared to even patrol the area. Even the once so-called voiceful ANC members living in the area, have become voiceless, as they are too afraid to speak out against illegal activities in the area. As mentioned before, residents fear that the place will soon ‘explode’ with dire consequences, not only to those living in Itireleng, but to the neighborhood, especially Laudium. Just how many more innocent people should die, before authorities, take the necessary action to stop lawlessness in the area? is the question many residents are asking. It is time that the police and the local council, together with other government departments, including the Welfare and Home Affairs Departments, take responsibility for the failing state of affairs in the area. How many more women should be attacked or children electrocuted, before decisive action is taken by those in authority?
This follows reports of another tragic incident of a child being electrocuted in Itireleng, this time a four year old boy. The unfortunate incident occurred last Sunday afternoon at around 4pm, when the child, Gift, touched live electrical wires that were hanging on the fence of a zink shack.
The Laudium Sun spoke to Joel Makhura, the father of little Gift who said, “Last Saturday evening, as I was passing to go home, I stood for a moment near the fence of my neighbor and for some reason, touched their fence. To my shock, I felt a shock in my whole body and when I checked, I noticed a live wire running from the fence into my neighbour’s place. As it was dark, I decided to go home and thought I would check the next day, where exactly the live wire was coming from, so that I could tell whoever was responsible for it, to make it safe. I was so upset and even told my wife about it. The next day, Sunday, I was busy with something in the morning and thought I will check the wires in the afternoon. However, in the afternoon, some of my friends from Itireleng came to visit me, so we sat and got busy talking. At around 4pm my friends said that they were going back home and that I should walk with them. All my kids, including my wife and sister-in-law, were still in the house. I then told my wife that I was going to walk with my friends, but that I would be back in few minutes. As I walked outside, my son said he was going to play with his friends in the yard, which he usually does. Then I met another friend on the way who was walking with a bucket of water, going to wash his car. In that time it was still loadshedding so I didn’t think the lights would come on at that time, so I sat down for 5 minutes with my friend. Then, all of a sudden I heard my 12 year old daughter screaming for me to come fast, saying something was wrong with my son Gift. I ran out and saw many people surrounding my son, who was laying on the floor, but no one was helping him. Others went to call my wife. I immediately picked my son up, and ran with him to my friend’s house as he has a car and told him to take us quickly to the hospital. As we were driving, my son was still alive and when I got to the Laudium Hospital, they sent me from one room to another and then after running around, my son just stopped breathing and he passed away. If the hospital would have attended to my child immediately, my child would have been alive today. I am so upset with those who are so irresponsible for leaving live electric wires hanging around and with the hospital staff for delaying to attend immediately to my son,” the grieving father sadly concluded.
The Laudium Sun also spoke to Shakeel Bhaktawer, from the Ward Councillor’s office who said, “Our office and the CPF met with the grieving parents of the 4 year old boy who was electrocuted in Itireleng on Sunday. We were on the scene on the day of this terrible tragedy and we witnessed the state of poverty the family lived in. We immediately requested assistance for the funeral from the City of Tshwane Social Services. However, due the boy not having proper identity documents funeral arrangements were delayed. We also received generous support from the local ‘Walking Football Team’ in getting food and groceries to the family. The illegal connections in Itireleng are robbing young kids of their lives. The City has tasked a team to inspect the area and to remove all illegal connections. Many residents from Itireleng have come to us seeking help in this regard. We cannot lose innocent young lives, because of the lawlessness of thugs in the area.”
Asked if police would arrest the owner of the shack, from where the live wires were hanging, Sgt Simon Chokoe of the Laudium Police said, “The case is under investigation.”
Newly elected CPF Chairperson, Shaheen Wahab told the Laudium Sun, “I will definitely take the matter up with police management, concerning why no arrests have been made in this regard.”
