Judge tells parties to settle dispute

A high court judge in Pretoria yesterday advised civil rights group AfriForum, the police and the Tshwane municipality to settle a legal battle about illegal electricity connections in the Sunway Township near Hartbeespoort Dam.

AfriForum sought a court order forcing the local municipality and the police to remove dangerous illegal electricity connections in the township, to prevent reconnection and to prosecute the culprits.

The municipality and police opposed the application, saying it was not urgent, that people had a right to electricity, that the affected persons should have been joined as respondents and that a court could simply not make the type of order sought.

AfriForum’s advocate Johan Hamman told the court attempts to settle the matter had failed.

He said a child had already been electrocuted and a veld fire started because of the illegal connections.

“The situation is extremely dangerous. A vast number of people are involved.

“They might be entitled to electricity, but they’re not entitled to steal it. Just as one has a right to housing but cannot illegally invade land.

“People are getting shocked and children are being endangered,” he said.

Judge Hennie de Vos advised the parties to discuss the issue and try to devise a solution.

The application will now stand down until tomorrow for the parties to draw up a possible settlement agreement.

AfriForum’s Pieter Rautenbach said the application will be argued if they were unable to agree on a court order.

AfriForum’s provincial coordinator Marcus Pawson said in court papers the illegal electrical connections in Sunway were apparently made with the sanction of Madibeng’s mayor.

He said there was a dispute between the Tshwane and Madibeng municipalities about who should provide electricity for Sunway.

Sunway fell within Madibeng’s district, but Tshwane was currently providing electricity in the area.

He said because of the turf wars and unwillingness of the police to act, a child had already been electrocuted and children were playing in the vicinity of extremely dangerous open electrical wiring.

The situation is extremely dangerous. A vast number of people are involved Johan Hamman AfriForum advocate