Electrocuted Reiger Park girl was devoted to church and school work

According to the Reiger Park SAPS spokesperson, Sgt Mashudu Phathela, initial reports indicate that Yamila Ismail was playing with her friends on the street before she entered the yard a few metres away from her home, to drink water.

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“It appears the child was electrocuted when she came into contact with an electrified water tap in the yard as she was opening it,” said Phathela.

Another child reportedly became worried when Yamila did not return to where they were playing. The child and others went inside the yard to look for their friend and found her lying unresponsive on the ground next to the tap.

They immediately alerted nearby adults, who then called paramedics.

Within minutes, paramedics arrived and took over CPR that had been begun by neighbours at the scene. Paramedics tried to revive the little girl but her vital signs did not return after almost an hour of advanced life support interventions. She was then declared dead at the scene.

Phathela said it remains unclear how the tap had become electrified and said investigations are continuing.

He added that the Ekurhuleni metro’s technical staff would conduct an inspection of the property.

The Advertiser visited the property where the incident happened and discovered that the tap in question is a plastic water tap, which raises more questions than answers.

Police have registered an inquest docket and are awaiting post-mortem results to determine the cause of the child’s death.

• Family speaks out

Yamila’s grandfather Omar Ismail described the death of his granddaughter as a strange thing to happen, adding that he was shocked that Yamila had died in such a manner.

“It causes great distress to us,” he said.

Yamila’s mother Zatoen Ismail and grandmother Barbara said they find it very difficult to believe that they have lost their daughter in such a manner.

They described Yamila as a sweet God-fearing child, who always attended Sunday church services and Sunday school.

“She was a respectful child and the majority of her life was devoted to church and her school work. She loved books and spent most of her time teaching other children about the Gospel and school work,” said Zatoen.

Barbara said her favourite song was I sing praises to your name.

“She sang it almost every day and taught other children, including her younger brother, to sing it. We shall miss her greatly.”

Yamila was in Grade Two at Reiger Park Primary and received a gold medal for her outstanding academic performance last month. -@FanieFLK