20/10/2026
: All they wanted was a solution. But their solution now puts them at risk of being electrocuted.
64-year-old, Meriting Phase 2 resident, Josephine Nyama, lost her brother to illegal electricity connections. Four months later, in May this year, Nyama’s three-year-old granddaughter was also electrocuted while playing with friends at a neighbour’s house.
“Luckily neighbours were able to rush and remove her from the fence, I almost lost her as well," Nyama says. Josephine is part of many residents who have been waiting for formal electricity supply for almost a decade now.
Community leader Tibi Kotedi says electrocutions linked to illegal power connections have claimed nine lives this year alone, including five children between the ages of three and ten.
Health-e News could not independently verify the figures. Local police in nearby Ennerdale and Lenasia told Health-e News they do not record individual incidents by cause of deaths.
“I no longer care about having toilets or running water, after the November 2026 election, I want electricity for Meriting Phase 2,” says Nyama.
👇 Full story in the comments
✍️ Via Lerato Kodisang.
