The shocking reality of illegal electricity connections was laid bare on Sunday when a DA oversight inspection of an Eskom substation in Kleinskool experienced first-hand the dangers of these connections after a cable tripped and sparks flew. 
Shortly after the incident, residents Roxy Roy, 37, and Ashwell Freeman, 34, quickly reconnected the live wires, connected to the substation and linked to their homes.
“Four houses are linked to this one line. Every time it trips we must come and fix it,” Freeman said.
“My electricity went off; that’s why we came to fix it.”
Roy, who has been living in the area for the past 12 years, said he was not afraid to handle the live wires, nor was he ashamed to do so as he had allegedly been promised an electricity box would be installed at his home, though this was yet to happen.
Another resident, Desmond Bloemetjie, 47, said he had been shocked “a few times” while fixing the live wires, particularly when it rained.
“All I want for this community is to have power and a toilet,” Bloemetjie said.
DA provincial leader Nqaba Bhanga, who headed the oversight inspection at the corner of Nysschen Road and Nimrod Street, said the reason for the visit was to highlight the dangers facing the community as a result of illegal connections.
“The biggest danger is that it [illegal connections] can kill our children,” Bhanga said.
“We came here to expose this. The community here can’t continue to live like this.”
DA MP and spokesperson for corruption Phumzile van Damme said her party was not about empty promises.
“This is far enough and no further.
“It is because of corruption that you live this way,” Van Damme said.
DA MP Natasha Mazzone said residents of Kleinskool should be angry about the lack of services in the area. “You must be angry. “Just look at what is happening here.
“This is a bomb that can go off at any minute.
“There are too many connections and it will explode.
“Three people have already died here.
“This is unnecessary and could have been avoided,” Mazzone said.
Kleinskool resident Beranice Sauls, 46, said she had heard of a child who had died while playing near the illegal cable connections.
“It is very dangerous here. “Something must be done,” Sauls said.
According to Sauls, her house burnt down three years ago, allegedly because of the illegal electricity connections.