UPDATE: Alex in mourning after electrocution of two sisters
ALEXANDRA - Mayor Herman Mashaba is expected to visit the family of two children that were electrocuted to death last week.
The Mabogwane family on Eighth Avenue in Alex is still trying to deal with the death of their two children who were electrocuted while they were playing near their home last week.
Since the incident, City Power has sent technicians to fix the faulty electricity box that was close to a leaking water pipe.
“Investigations into what caused the death of the two children have not yet been completed, but in the meantime, we have fixed the electricity supply,” said Sol Masolo, spokesperson for City Power.
He said the power supplier will assist the family with funeral preparations to ease the burden of planning a funeral.
“We will assist the family with some of the things they might need, but this is not an admission of guilt, it is purely an act of humanity.”
Ward 107 councillor Ambe Maseko said the city will arrange counselling for the family. She also alleged that the tragedy was caused by the negligence of City Power.
“How [can] you locate an electricity box close to a water pipe? City Power must take full responsibility for what happened,” Maseko said.
She said the council was planning to visit the family together with City of Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba.
The children’s aunt, Lorna Mampane, pleaded with the City to assist with funeral preparations.
“This all happened at the wrong time. We do not have enough money for the funeral, so it would be appreciated if they [the City] could assist with the funeral preparations.”
Resident Lebogang Leso said it was good that City Power fixed the problem, but it was too late.
“It seems as if they were waiting for a tragedy to happen before they fixed the problem,” Leso said.
He also said that councillors should work together with City Power to ensure that residents are offered the services they deserve.
On 23 November the two sisters, Reabetswe (6) and Omhile (4), were playing near the electricity box with their friends when they were electrocuted. A neighbour was asked to transport the children to a nearby clinic where they died.
Read: Faulty electricity connection claims the lives of two children in Alex
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