A mother along with her four young children has been found living in an electric power station in Randburg, Johannesburg.

The duration of their stay in the substation has not been made public but it must have been quite some time as the had set up a chest freezer, beds, a wardrobe and stove as well as other personal items. According to reports, the City has now stepped in to try and help the struggling family who are believed to be foreign nationals.

The City’s councillor for the for Environment and Infrastructure Services Department, Mpho Moerane, cautioned against the dangers of occupying substation chambers.

“The problem of homelessness is big in the City of Johannesburg because of economic opportunities available. While the situation we found today is a sad one, it’s a very dangerous one and there are even children involved. But the biggest concern is the illegality and vandalism that happened for them to be in there in the first place. That is why we had to save them by evicting them,” said MMC Moerane.

City Power has over 18 000 transformer chambers across the City of Johannesburg. According to Moerane, three people had been electrocuted inside similar chambers to the one the family from Zimbabwe was found in.

The MMC is engaging the Social Development Department and other authorities to assist the family with a place to stay and other social needs.