‘Berserk’ squatters turn on family
NGRY shack dwellers, upset at being prevented from hooking up to an illegal source of electricity, went on the rampage, stoning a Clare Estate family and dumping the wreck of an old car on to their driveway.
Resident Akshar Authar said the drama had begun around 2pm on Saturday when he saw about 50 people from an informal settlement gather at a street pole opposite his home.
“When I took a closer look, I saw one shack dweller trying to illegally connect electricity.
“This angered me because when the shack dwellers illegally tap into our electricity, they overload the circuit and this trips our supply.”
He and his elderly father, who declined to be named, approached the group to explain how the illegal connection would affect them.
“I asked them what they were doing. I then told them if they were connecting the electricity to their homes, they must not disconnect us. This made them go berserk,” said Authar.
“They started swearing us, saying they would burn our house and car.”
The group then allegedly picked up boulders and stones and hurled them at the father and son.
“We ran back on to our property and hid in the garage. My tenant’s SUV was struck with a boulder and is badly damaged.”
Authar said he contacted Sydenham SAPS for help. “They managed to restore some order.”
He said his parents had to attend a family gathering and left soon after the police had departed. He was at home with his older sister.
That was when we heard singing and chanting outside.
“A group of men and women were carrying the shell of a car and threw it on to our driveway. Fortunately, it did not damage anything.”
Fearing for his safety, he contacted the SAPS, Metro Police and the Durban Flying Squad.
“They tried to restore order but the shack dwellers refused to leave until their electricity was connected.”
A neighbour, said Authar, had driven to the nearby electricity depot and the power had been restored. Only then did they leave.
“The issues between the shack dwellers and residents are becoming more and more intense. I am afraid it is going to become volatile.”
Authar said residents and shack dwellers had approached the local councillor on many occasions asking him to help with proper electricity supply for the shack dwellers.
“We live in harmony, but when there is no power, things become tense.”
His electricity bill every month, he said, amounted to approximately R10 000 because he was being billed for his usage as well as that of the shack dwellers.
Plight
“I understand the shack dwellers’ plight but the eThekwini Municipality needs to address these issues. We cannot be paying such high bills when we don’t use that much power.”
Since the incident things have calmed down. “My parents, sister and I are at home. So far everything is calm but we are not letting our guard down. We have locked our gates and are staying alert to see if there is any activity.”
A mother of two, who was raised in the area, said: “We can no longer live like this. Will government take us seriously if someone’s house burns to the ground or if someone dies?”
Another resident added: “The power comes on and then is disconnected for days. I don’t buy meat unless I am going to cook it the same day. I am scared it will spoil and my money will get wasted.”
The chairperson of the Clare Estate Action Committee, Vincent Chetty, described the situation, for both residents and shack dwellers, as frustrating.
“This problem began in 2013 and it has not been properly address by the municipality. Tension is building up in the community and if nothing is going to be done to resolve the issue there is a possibility it may turn volatile.”
Deputy mayor Fawzia Peer was at the scene of the incident on Sunday afternoon.
“I spoke to the shack dwellers and I will be taking up their plight with the relevant authorities,” she said.
The councillor for the area could not be reached for comment by time of publication.