It is alleged that the boy touched the electrical wires inside the box and was electrocuted.
Madisebo Boee (39) says that she was shocked when her four-year-old niece came crying to her, saying that Karabo had collapsed and didn’t want to wake-up.
“We found him lying on the ground and he could not speak; we immediately rushed him to the local clinic to receive medical attention,” she says.
• Read: Teenager electrocuted in class of Geluksdal Secondary School
According to Boee, the electrical box was left open on Saturday when municipal electricians were working on it.
“They promised to come back on Monday to finish the job but never came back.
“We are tired of the negligence of the electricians.
“In 2010, my son, who was five at the time, was shocked by the same electrical box after it was left open for months.
“We complained about it but they kept promising to come close it until we informed them about the incident.
“He is now permanently affected, mentally, and no one wants to take responsibility for it.
“History has repeated itself now and my nephew was a victim, we fear that next time a child will lose their life because of this box,” she says.
• Also read: Hard facts about electrical injuries – Do not be a victim
Boee says that she wants those responsible to be held accountable.
“They left the box open for five days and only responded when we informed them about the incident.
“We cannot continue living in fear every time the electrician comes to fix the electricity in the area,” she says.
Ward 74 councillor Thulani Simelane says that the electricians were supposed to return on Monday to finish the work.
“On Saturday they were only able to restore the electricity in the middle of the night and the workers forgot to close the box.
“I was shocked when I learned that, days later, they didn’t go back and a child fell victim to an electrical shock.
“We have visited the family, the matter is under investigation and the two children will receive psychological assistance,” he says.
