Toddler dies after stepping on illegal electrical connection in the east
Tshwane metro team is set to discuss illegal connection and service delivery issues with the Nellmapius community where the child died.
A 20-month-old boy lost his life after stepping on an illegal electrical connection in Nellmapius east of Pretoria earlier this month. Grandma Florence Qhangayo said little Siphiwe died near his home in Mavuso informal settlement on a Sunday. “I was the one who find him afterwards.
The tragedy took place in only a minute or so.” Qhangayo said Siphiwe’s mum had just stepped out to go to a mall while the youngster wanted to accompany his uncle to a nearby shop. “His uncle was a few metres ahead of him, so Siphiwe turned around to try and get to the shops using a different route.
A few metres away he stepped on the fence and was electrocuted. I went to look for him just after he went out and that’s when I found him.’’
Qhangayo said her heart sunk when she saw her grandson on the ground.
“A neighbour helped to get the his feet off the fence but it was too late. We took him to hospital and they confirmed he had died. The dead boy’s mum Bukelwa said she was shocked when she arrived on the scene. “When I got there and saw him, I didn’t know he had died.
I just thought he was badly hurt. He was such a light, bubbly and happy child.” She said the incident has left Siphiwe’s older brother Silindisiwe (6) traumatised. “He cries and says he misses his brother and keeps on asking when he is coming back. It is truly heartbreaking.”
Following the incident, Bukelwa said the illegal connections were stripped off but a week later, they were back.
Tshwane metro head administrator Mpho Nawa said a team from the administration was set to meet with the community following the death of the child.
“The team will meet with the community to discuss the issue of illegal connections and other issues of service delivery, as we look into formalising the informal settlements.” Community leader Vusimuzi Msiza said the community was to engage with the metro this week, to get the settlement legally connected following the death of the toddler.
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