The impact of overhead power lines on an informal settlement: Motsoaledi Village, Diepkloof (Soweto)

M.A.Emergence of informal settlements on vacant lands in urban areas results from intuition and political decisions, and sometimes cultural background. So any available vacant land is used for settlement development and dwelling sites. An informal settlement named after Elias Motsoaledi, a political activist of the African National Congress (ANC), was developed in the south-western part of the city of Johannesburg in 1993. Motsoaledi informal settlement was established on a vacant piece of land where there are overhead power lines. Motsoaledi community members that have their dwellings in close proximity and even underneath overhead power lines are exposed to an environment that is surrounded by electrical magnetic fields (EMFs). There are no reported cases of biological and health consequences that have been caused by EMFs as yet. This study aims to focus on the health aspect of persons who have their dwelling in the vicinity of the overhead power lines in Motsoaledi. The high levels of EMFs around Motsoaledi is further excelerated by the zinc structures that are conductive to electricity and may result in electrocution for dwellers that are in the direct vicinity of overhead power lines. Longer exposure to athermal conditions may result in bio-effects and lead to changes in human health. Furthermore, effects from EMFs are possible electrocution, often causing immediate death of persons and destruction of property. Due to the lack of proper planning of informal settlements, such settlements become vulnerable to potential environmental hazards such as the destruction of structures. This study hopes to identify the plight of a particular informal settlement, namely, Motsoaledi as an isolated case to reflect dire conditions of most of the informal settlements around the country