Residents of Meriting Phase 2 in Lenasia South, Gauteng, are demanding formal electricity connections after nearly a decade without a reliable power supply. According to AllAfrica, the informal settlement, established in 2017, has relied on illegal connections to the existing network, locally known as izinyoka, because the cost of candles, paraffin, and gas has become burdensome for struggling households. Residents pay between R250 and R300 monthly for these temporary links, which community leader Tibi Kotedi describes as a solution that has become a persistent danger.
The lack of formal infrastructure has resulted in several fatalities. Kotedi told AllAfrica that nine lives were claimed by electrocutions this year, including five children aged three to ten. While these figures are not independently verified by local police, who do not always record deaths by specific cause, the impact on families is profound. Josephine Nyama, 64, lost her 67-year-old brother Steven in January when he was found dead on live wires. Four months later, her three-year-old granddaughter was electrocuted while touching a fence connected to a live wire. Another resident, Mahlatse, lost her six-year-old daughter in February 2026, while Ntwaki Molefe’s 16-year-old son died near a railway field four years ago.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena explained that electrification depends on municipal planning processes. He stated that the City of Johannesburg’s housing department must first determine the land status and qualify the settlement for the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme. Only after this planning phase can City Power design and install the necessary infrastructure. Mangena noted that the illegal connections pose safety risks to both residents and the broader electricity network.
In September, hundreds of residents protested to demand action. Puseletso Nzimande, the Ward 120 councillor, said she is working with the housing department and community representatives on service delivery. She has also requested solar high-mast lighting to improve safety. As the November 2026 local elections approach, Nyama said electricity has become her top priority, stating that she is less concerned with other services like running water. The current ward councillor and the housing department have not yet responded to questions from AllAfrica regarding the timeline for formal connections.