In a concerning trend, Eskom, South Africa’s primary electricity provider, has observed a troubling increase in the construction of homes and other structures within power line servitudes. This unwelcome development not only violates Eskom regulations but also raises significant safety concerns.
With structures encroaching upon these vital corridors, the risk of accidents and disruptions to power supply looms large. Eskom urgently appeals to the public to refrain from such activities in the interest of safety and reliable electricity provision.
The land below and adjacent to a power line is called a servitude. This servitude belongs to the relevant landowner in that area, but Eskom has sole right to this land since we must maintain and fix that line from time to time.
“The common belief that power lines are harmless because of their size and distance from the ground must be corrected. It is challenging to ensure the safety of those who live within power line servitudes, and residents are prohibited from doing so to protect the safety of communities,” says Miranda Moahlodi, Senior Corporate Manager for Occupational Hygiene and Safety at Eskom.
Electricity transmitted or distributed on power lines can be up to 765 000 volts. A fault anywhere on the power line may cause very high current to flow down to the ground. If somebody is close to the line, the current can flow through the person and kill him or her. Also, a line may break due to strong winds or bad weather and land on a shack/house or a person, which could kill or seriously hurt the inhabitants.
There have also been incidences where residents have been injured due to metal objects that have come into contact with live electricity. Metal is a very good conductor of electricity and there is a possibility of an arc to a shack built within a power line servitude. If lightning hits the line, as it does in many cases due to the height of a line, a flashover of electricity may occur to the homes in the servitude.
“If Chiefs or traditional authorities want to give pieces of land to their people and these stands are close to an Eskom servitude, they must speak to the local Eskom office. The traditional leaders and Eskom can then together make sure that all the people are allocated land away from the power lines, ensuring their safety,” continues Moahlodi. At the same time, developers should make sure that the required clearance is maintained when access roads are built crossing our servitudes.
Beyond the direct safety issues this can cause, building close to and/or under power lines makes it difficult for Eskom to conduct infrastructure inspections, which can affect the supply of power in an area and hinder the early detection of issues that could cause major damage. Often too, Eskom staff need to remove or replace pieces of equipment when they maintain or strengthen these lines, and these pieces of equipment, which are often heavy, could fall on the dwellings or people below the line.
Eskom uses various types of machinery to maintain its power lines, such as big trucks, which require enough space to access the structure. We also use helicopters to perform live line maintenance, and as such it becomes risky to the people living under the lines.
“We hope that the public will heed this call and assist us by only building in designated areas that have been approved by the local municipality and government. We will continue to educate communities about electricity safety – ensuring that we all use electricity safely and responsibly,” Moahlodi concludes.
