Durban - The people of Intshawini near KwaDukuza (Stanger) are fuming after a mother of three was electrocuted on Monday, apparently by an illegal electricity connection.
They said an unnamed Mozambican man who had illegally connected electricity in his rented home at the informal settlement, had been repeatedly warned of the danger.
Early on Monday, some vented their anger by torching his home.
According to the KwaDukuza municipality, two brothers who shared the home, were on the run.
The victim, Mntu Ntuli, 37, was electrocuted while she was walking barefoot to fetch water from a nearby tap.
Witness Ntombi Mphola, 51, said the tragedy happened at about 6am.
“A man staying near Mntu’s home had illegally connected the electric line across the path where she was walking. Mntu did not know the line had a current going through it,” Mphola said.
“She was carrying a bucket on her head and when she grabbed the line to go past, she was electrocuted.”
As Mphola rushed to help, she saw the line getting wrapped around Ntuli.
“The bucket of water fell on Mntu which made things worse.”
Mphola said Ntuli’s husband tried to help his wife when he saw what was happening.
“While trying to help her, he also got (shocked). When she fell to the ground, he used a stick to free her from the line that was wrapped around her. We then called the paramedics.”
Intshawini residents said on Tuesday they had warned the landlord about the danger of the cable to people, especially children.
“He arrogantly said our children should just avoid the wires when they are walking,” said a resident who asked not to be named.
The man had not returned home after he heard what had happened.
“We called (for) the owner of the house, and his sons said their father was dead and they had nothing to do with the tenant who did the electricity connection.
“After hearing this, people from the community burned the house... at about 2am on Tuesday.”
Ntuli’s aunt, Mehlweni Mhlaba, 63, said she was stunned by the incident.
“I had just talked to her a couple of days before she died. She got on well with people.”
Mhlaba said the family planned to bury Ntuli in Nsonono, in the KwaDukuza area, on Sunday.
Community activist Moosa Sibisi said: “People need to know that illegal electricity connections do not make their lives better, but end up hurting them most.
The only way things can get better is if government and the community work together.”
The Daily News tried to contact the local councillor for the ward, Thokozani Msweli, but he had not replied to questions sent him by the time of publication.
KwaDukuza municipality spokesman, Sphelelo Ngobese, told Sapa on Tuesday the municipality had since disconnected the cables to the home. Ngobese said the incident could have resulted in more deaths and was unacceptable.
“The suspects are now at large and an inquest docket has been opened by the police,” Ngobese said.
This could not immediately be confirmed by the SAPS.
Daily News