Homeowner warned of power pylon collapse

The pylon next to Hansraj Ramkissoon's house in Shallcross needs urgent inspection and repairs to prevent it from toppling, but he won't allow Eskom on to his property. Photo: Supplied

The pylon next to Hansraj Ramkissoon's house in Shallcross needs urgent inspection and repairs to prevent it from toppling, but he won't allow Eskom on to his property. Photo: Supplied

Published Oct 28, 2014

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Durban - Eskom has warned of an imminent “catastrophe” – the possible collapse of an electricity pylon and high-powered voltage lines – because a stubborn homeowner will not allow its officials on to his property to inspect for rusting or damage.

The national electricity supplier said not only was Hansraj Ramkissoon endangering the lives of his family, but also those of the surrounding community and passengers on trains on the adjacent railway line which would become electrified if the 88 000 volt power lines fell.

“It will be a catastrophe, causing the deaths of so many people,” Eskom’s land and rights officer Brian Akkiah said in his urgent Durban High Court application, in which he is seeking an order against Ramkissoon to get access to the precarious pylon.

When the matter was called before Judge Piet Koen, Ramkissoon said he wanted to consult a lawyer.

The judge expressed concern about the danger and the urgency of the matter, but gave him five days to file an opposing affidavit.

Akkiah said many pylons were on private property and Eskom registered servitudes to gain legal access to them.

The servitude was registered over Ramkissoon’s Shallcross property in 1973, almost 20 years before he bought it, but he refuses to acknowledge it and is demanding rental from Eskom.

Akkiah said the pylon supplied electricity to all of Shallcross and was a Metrorail supply point.

“It is located in a precarious position with part of its support legs on Ramkissoon’s property and part on a steep bank. The only way to get there is through his property, but it is fenced and guarded by several dogs.”

He said the bases of three of its legs were not visible because they were buried by rubble and fill.

They had not been inspected for many years.

“Our experience of other pylon inspections in the same area has revealed that the legs below ground have eroded and require immediate refurbishment,” he said.

An engineer had done a visual inspection on October 20 and reported that the base of the tower was damaged “possibly due to corrosion” and the tower was “displaced and leaning”. He recommended immediate repairs.

“We have made numerous requests for access, all of which have been denied. I visited (the Ramkissoons) at home and offered to fence off the area around the tower to safeguard children playing in the garden. But he wants compensation and he wants us to pay him a rental. I explained Eskom’s rights but he refuses to accept them. I explained the danger, but he said I should speak to his lawyer,” Akkiah said.

He had spoken to the lawyer, who understood the situation and said he would sort it out, but soon afterwards Ramkissoon and he parted ways because of a “breakdown in communication”.

“It is a hopeless situation.

“There is a real danger of collapse especially because of the recent torrential rains and high winds. It is a disaster waiting to happen.”

Akkiah said should the power lines hit the ground or the railway line, “it will kill anyone who comes into contact with them”.

“If they fall on homes it will cause widespread fires and indescribable loss of life and damage to property.

“There will also be a complete blackout and it could take months for electricity to be restored.”

The matter will be back in court early next week.

The Mercury

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