Girl, 8, electrocuted by illegal electricity connections

An eight-year-old girl from Grabouw in the Western Cape died after being electrocuted by illegal electricity connections on Sunday.

Matlhodi Maseko, DA member and chairperson of the Standing Committee on Human Settlements in the Western Cape, said: “The young child was innocently playing in a grass area close to the illegal electric connections in Hillside, Grabouw. These connections are known to be extremely hazardous and with great sadness, we have witnessed the death of a child.”

The police and forensic investigators arrived on the scene shortly after the incident.

“Illegal connections are an extreme hazard to our communities, and especially to young children who unknowingly come into contact with electric cables and wires. These criminal acts lead to tragedies just like this, when our children should be safe in their neighbourhoods,” Maseko said in a statement on Monday.

“Illegal connections are poorly constructed and don’t have the necessary electrical protection around wiring and cables for homes. They also reduce the stability of electricity to neighbourhoods and, in the long-term, contribute to power outages.

“In the past three years, electrical theft and vandalism has cost almost R200 million – money which should rather be spent to keep us safely connected.”

Maseko said she was monitoring this situation and would follow-up with the relevant authorities and police.

“We trust that a full investigation will take place, and that the police will look into those who set up the illegal electricity connections around our homes in the first place.”

She appealed to communities to report any illegal connections immediately, either to the South African Police Service by sending an SMS to 32211, or to Eskom by calling 08600 37566.

NEWS24.COM