THEY illegally redirect electricity from power lines into their shacks by digging up the roads and installing ordinary cables.

But these people are also digging their graves or, even worse, those of innocent children.

But "desperation" has led them to illegally connect electricity.

The lives of children at Snake Park in Soweto and Thembelihle, near Lenasia, southern Johannesburg, are in danger.

One has to be careful when walking in these areas.

The electricity wires are everywhere. They criss-cross the roads, supplying electricity to several shacks in the area.

Joe Moleme* of Snake Park said one only needed to pay R100 to one of the neighbourhood men to get connected.

"It is that cheap," he said.

"Now I do not have to use a primus stove that makes me very sick."

Though he knew what they were doing was illegal, he said. residents "did not have a choice because they needed the power supply".

"I registered for a house in 1995. To date I have not heard anything," Moleme said.

As the Sowetan team moved around the area we spotted electricity cables in one yard.

We walked in. There were four men in their 30s and 47-year-old Nosipho Rwacaza.

One of the men was quick to ask: "What do you want?"

At the same time, another pulled the cable and threw it over a fence into another yard.

We talked to the old woman.

"Please go stand that side. Not here," said one of the men, pointing to a tree nearby.

Rwacaza was not comfortable and asked that we moved to her house to talk.

She told us "izinyoka-nyoka" was a way of life in the area.

* Not his real name

Comments

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Wed May 22 00:37:50 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 19, 2012

Dzel

These people must put their skills into good use by stealing cables from the e-toll gantries that way we all win :-)
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Apr 19, 2012

NDA

@ Dzel

Soon izinyoka will be on top of e-toll bridge.

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Apr 19, 2012

TrippleXXX

Izinyoka must steal the E-Toll cables....or ATM bombers must come to our rescue...

Or else every time I approach the E-Tolls I will remove my plates
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Apr 19, 2012

CheeseBoy

these peo.ple are too ign.orant to see the lin.k betw.een the et.olls and cost of liv.ing. the.y won't risk it.
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Apr 19, 2012

Phunyukabemphethe

Dear Izinyoka

Now it's time you give back to the community... Please steal e-Toll power cables.We beg you
cause it is going to be expensive for me and my family

Yours sincerely
Gauteng
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Apr 19, 2012

CheeseBoy

"I registered for a house in 1995. To date I have not heard anything," Moleme said.

whilst I dont blame poor people for voting the ANC in 94 after all the promises of a better life, i feel no sympathy for people who after 17 years and several elections and a tonne of lies and corruption. still expect the ruling party to deliver. Molome and people like you are going to wait 34 more years for empty promises.

mean time clever people who have seen the ANC for what it really is have moved on and have made different plans. keep dreaming sheeple
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Apr 19, 2012

busilicious

Mmmmmmm, I see, thugs will now have a full time good paying jobs with this E-Toll.
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Apr 19, 2012

Phunyukabemphethe

To Highways users

Stop Highway Robbery
Please sign a petition log: www.petitionbuzz.com\petitions\dashr

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Apr 19, 2012

Nhlanhlaz

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Izinyoka its time now for you to give back to the community and still the cables of the e-tolls
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Apr 19, 2012

TKay

They are really putting innocent lives at risk
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