Durban - A teenager’s death has been blamed on an illegal electricity connection at the same Shallcross informal settlement where a 5-year-old boy was electrocuted last month.
Angered by the latest tragedy,residents at the Chiltern Drive settlement blocked nearby Shallcross Road on Monday,burning tyres, tree branches, bottles and rubbish, while calling for formal housing.
Most shacks in the settlement have illegal electricity connections, including the home where the latest victim, Bafana Mtshali,17, lived.
Little Mhlengi Bright Hlophe was the first to die this year when his foot got caught in live wires that crossed a small stream.
Ntokozo Mtshali told the Daily News on Tuesday that her brother, Bafana, had been watching the Royalty Soapie Awards on SABC when he decided to go outside the shack for a smoke break on Sunday night.
“He was with his friend next door and after they had smoked a few cigarettes, he said he was going home.We do not know what he was doing on the embankment. We heard a loud scream outside the house. We went to investigate. It was pitch dark outside and we found Bafana lying on his back next to the muddy footpath,” she said.
One resident disconnected an illegal connection near Bafana’s body.
Ntokozo said they lifted him up and placed him on the ground next to the house.
“We are not certain what happened, if he touched the live wire or not. He was grunting in pain and could not speak. His body was hot and he was in immense pain. We poured water on him to calm him down,” she said. “He then died moments later.”
Residents pointed out where the tape around an electric cabling joint had come off.
There are many wires buried under the sand leading down to the settlement from a street pole on the road.
The problem, said some of the residents, was that no one sold paraffin nearby and candles were too dangerous to use. Therefore many relied on illegal electrical connections to supply power to their homes.
Bafana worked at a roadside fruit stall outside the Shallcross train station. His family is yet to arrange a date for the funeral.
Ward councillor André Mitchell said he sympathised with the family.
“It is a pity that illegal connections persist in this settlement, not long after the 5-year-old child was also electrocuted,” he said.
Mitchell briefed residents after they embarked on a street protest, blocking off the road.
“I reminded them about the municipality’s electricity roll-out programme (and also) the supply of ablution facilities and water. I also reminded them of their participation in the Masekhane Roadshow, which was held at the Queensburgh Town Hall, where all their grievances, especially electricity, were recorded by the officials,” Mitchell said.
Residents asked Mitchell to stop the electricity department from removing their illegal connections until the roll-out programme was completed.
“I am not sure when this informal settlement will be electrified. I cannot make empty promises. I was also called (to the mayor’s office) to give feedback after the protest on Monday,” Mitchell said.
He said he would meet the residents again on Wednesday to inform them of the progress of electricity connections.
Police spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker, said Chatsworth police had opened an inquest docket.
He said there would be a post-mortem to determine the cause of death.
Daily News