Cape Town - A 14-year-old Khayelitsha teen was electrocuted to death in a freak accident at the TR informal Settlement over the weekend.
Amahle Masala, a Grade 9 pupil at Ntlanganiso High School, was killed when she held on to a metal wire connected to a shack which had an electric cable running through the zinc roof. The incident took place on Saturday at around 11am.
According to witness Lungile Jungwana, Amahle was stretching her arms out when she held on to the metal wire, used as a washing line, for support.
“We had just been joking around when she stood and held the wire. The next thing I saw was her body shaking and she was screaming for her friend Wendy to help her.”
Jungwana said at first he was so shocked that he stayed rooted to the spot. But he was triggered into action by the sight of flashing sparks coming from the wire near the roof.
“I quickly grabbed a wooden rake and tried hitting her away from the wire. We tried moving her with the rake several times until the wire broke.”
Jungwana said when the wire broke it got tangled around Amahle’s body causing her to choke even more.
“It lasted for a few minutes, but when we managed to set her loose from the wire she had already lost so much strength.”
Amahle collapsed and, according to Jungwana, her mouth and tongue had turned white. Neighbours arrived and threw water on her.
She was taken to the nearby fire station as the area’s clinics were closed for the weekend. Amahle died at the fire station.
Amahle’s sister Babalwa Masala, 19, said this was not the first time someone in their neighbourhood had been shocked.
“Our neighbour who lives in the shack directly beneath the electric pole where the cable runs through was also shocked, but survived. I thought my sister would survive it too.”
Babalwa said at the time of the incident she was inside their home cleaning the bedroom. Amahle had just finished doing the washing and was about to wash the dishes.
She said she heard her sister’s cry for help and when she went outside, she saw her sister dangling from the wire.
“I feel very hurt and shocked by the incident. It scares me because we have been living here since birth and we never imagined something of this nature would happen. Not to my sister, of all people.”
Babalwa said Amahle wanted to study tourism. She said her sister was also a good singer and was part of the high school choir.
“Amahle used to sing for us here at home and was a very humorous person who loved entertaining people. I’m not sure how this house will be now that she is gone.
Eskom spokesman Andrew Etzinger confirmed the incident. He said Eskom management was deeply saddened.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family.”
Etzinger said based on an initial investigation, it appeared that Amahle held on to a washing line for support as she stood up from her seat and was subsequently electrocuted.
He said Eskom technical staff arrived on the scene and inspected the area.
“There was no apparent indication as to how the washing line had been electrified. The incident is under investigation.”
Cape Argus