Duduza – The Skosana family wants Eskom to take accountability after their 13-year-old child, Thokozani, suffered an electrical shock and sustained burns. This is after he came into contact with a wire hanging from a power line in Masechaba.
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The incident took place on August 25 around 4pm. Residents claim the wire, from a tyre, was found hanging from the Eskom power line that Tuesday morning and a number of people were injured as a result, including a seven-year-old. It is not known how the wire came to be there and community members claim they informed ward councillor Bongani Hlophe about the matter at around 10am. “The only call I received was from a man called Zakhele, who called just after 4pm. I then immediately informed an Eskom senior technician about the matter and explained the urgency of it.
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Prior to that, no one called me,” said Hlophe. An eyewitness, Zakhele Hlalele, told the African Reporter he had called the councillor before the serious incident occurred. “We called the councillor because a number of people had already been hurt by touching this wire, although they weren’t injured as severely as Thokozani,” he said. Hlalele explained the wire struck Thokozani and he turned around to see what it was and held onto it. “That’s when he was shocked and the right side of his body was caught alight. He then fell to the ground and we rushed over to him with water and sand to try and extinguish the flames. “I used a wooden plank to remove the wire from his hand and we loaded Thokozani into a car and drove him to the hospital,” Hlalele recalled. Eskom stated they will not take accountability for the incident.
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“Eskom has conducted a preliminary investigation into the incident which indicated that a tyre wire was thrown on the electricity supply line,” said communications officer Ntombifuthi Hlophe. “We regret that an innocent child was injured due to illegal and inconsiderate practices by some members of the community. “We cannot over emphasise to members of the public the dangers of throwing objects onto the electricity lines, as this may lead to shock or electrocution and in worse situations result in a fatality,” said Ntombifuthi. Eskom confirmed a technician was dispatched to investigate the matter as soon as it was brought to their attention. “It is unfortunate that the incident took place as the technician was driving to the area to attend to the matter. “While Eskom regrets the incident it does not take accountability to the injury that resulted from dangerous acts that put the safety of the public at risk. “Though Eskom sympathises with the injured child and his mother, we are not in a position to take any part of culpability at this stage especially given the indications of our preliminary investigations pointing towards a third party throwing a wire on the line,” added Ntombifuthi. Follow us on: 
