Tragic electrocution in Tongaat, KZN underscores risks of illegal electricity connections
File: A street light that has been tampered with for an illegal electricity connection. A 21-year-old man died when he stepped on an wires from an illegal connection in Emona, oThongathi on Saturday.
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A 21-year-old man died when he was electrocuted due to an illegal electrical connection in Emona, oThongathi (Tongaat), prompting the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to renew calls for municipalities to take action to rid areas of illegal connections.
Security company Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) said its officers were called to the scene at 9:46am on Saturday morning, where they found the man’s family gathered.
Relatives told RUSA that the victim tripped on exposed wires while walking in the rain. He was declared dead on the scene.
RUSA added that the incident was not isolated.
“Paramedics & Reaction Officers have attended to three electrocutions (due to) illegal connections in the past ten days,” the company said.
Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi extended condolences to the family and urged municipalities to intensify enforcement against illegal connections.
“KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of a 21-year-old man who tragically died after being electrocuted yesterday,” the department said on Sunday.
According to the department, the victim “was walking in the Emona area when he accidentally stepped on live electricity wires originating from an illegal connection.”
MEC Buthelezi described the incident as part of a wider recurring problem. “These connections are a serious threat to human life and safety. It is a tragedy that our province continues to lose innocent lives to this dangerous practice every year,” he said.
The department said it would not release the name of the deceased out of respect for the family.
He called on municipalities to tighten monitoring and response efforts.
The KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said further details would be communicated once engagements with the family are complete.