IN A dramatic turn of events, Joburg suburbs are now grappling with an indefinite power outage following a wild underground fire that erupted between Empire Road and the Crown Interchange on the M1 highway.
The authorities are investigating whether homeless recyclers are to blame. The fire led to the temporary closure of parts of the M1 highway due to thick smoke.
Over the past month, informal camps have mushroomed along the streets on the outskirts of the Joburg CBD.
The Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) says while fines are issued to those violating by-laws against sleeping in undesignated areas, it remains a problem.
SNL24's Morapedi Mashashe visited Vrededorp, Parktown, Newtown, Brixton, and other inner city parts where vagrants have set up makeshift homes.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla admits that attempts to relocate the homeless are often futile as they tend to return to the streets.
City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the security guards were caught in a gun battle with recyclers living on Carr Street on Wednesday night, 1 May.
"We went down into Carr Street and found recyclers that have made makeshift shacks in that area. It's suspected that they gained access to the bridge from there. After the fire was put out, the security left patrolling exchanged fire with the recyclers. No one was injured. They managed to retrieve bags of already cut copper cables to be taken to the scrapyards. This is the evidence the police should use to flush out these people who are creating problems for the infrastructure in this area," Mangena said.
A large group of shack dwellers is on the doorstep of the Joburg fire.
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