Praktiseer man allegedly electrocuted to death
"We are in shock as Sanco. Operation Mabone was left for too long and people are now resorting to illegal connections. We urge FTLM to ensure that proper electricity is installed in our communities to save lives," said Mokgakala.
BURGERSFORT – A 42-year-old man was presumed to have died by electrocution after he had allegedly tried to connect electricity illegally in Praktiseer.
The incident happened at the Shushumela section, Extension 3, on Monday at about 20:00.
The deceased was identified as Frans Motubatse. According to the Limpopo SAPS, they are currently investigating this case.
“Our officers on duty alleged that they received a complaint that someone was shocked by electricity at Shushumela.
“They rushed to the scene and upon arrival found a black male dead. The man was allegedly hit by the power, and fell down from the top of the electricity pole to the ground.
“We are unsure if he was killed by the power or by the injuries he sustained when he fell from his ladder to the ground,” said Limpopo SAPS spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe.
He added, “It is believed he was making illegal connections to the electrical transformer. The deceased also sustained multiple injuries on his body.”
Sanco Tubatse subregion’s chairperson, Putiputi Mokgakala, blamed the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) and Mphaphuli Consulting for the abandonment of the Operation Mabone initiative. The project was earmarked to electrify more than 23 villagers in and around FTLM. It has been halted since 2017.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News understood that in some communities almost 90 per cent of the electrification has been done, but still the villagers have no power.
“We are in shock as Sanco. Operation Mabone was left for too long and people are now resorting to illegal connections. We urge FTLM to ensure that proper electricity is installed in our communities to save lives,” said Mokgakala.
With Operation Mabone having mostly failed, communities in Praktiseer, Bothashoek, Riba Cross, Driekop and other local villages have resorted more and more to connecting power illegally.
