Rabie Ridge police spokesperson Constable Jacob Nhlongo said the-two-year-old’s death could have been avoided.
“The homeowner built a shack and rented it out to a hair salon. The salon’s electricity connection came from the main house where the child lived,” he said.
Nhlongo said the people who connected the electricity attached a long cable to the fence bordering the property. Due to rain and wear, the cables became faulty and on the day the child died, the fence became live and the boy was electrocuted. After the toddler was shocked, his mother quickly called an ambulance, but as paramedics tried to open the gate they too were shocked, none of them were injured. However, the child died soon after paramedics arrived.
“When the paramedics were shocked after touching the fence, it became clear that the child had died after he touched the live fence. We are appealing to the community to not leave electricity cables within children’s reach, or near steel as it may shock someone.”
