Chronicle Editor
Bongani Ndlovu, Online Reporter
TWO siblings were electrocuted and died after stepping on an electric cable in South Africa, and their family is appealing for funds to repatriate their bodies to Zimbabwe.
According to SABC News, the incident occurred on Tuesday at the Kagisanong informal settlement in Kgabalatsane, near Brits in the North West province. The siblings, aged five and eleven, were returning home from playing with their friends when tragedy struck.
Speaking to SABC News, their father, Shepherd Xiendlele, said: “When I arrived home, I found that my children were no longer alive. I had to fetch them from where they got electrocuted. My problem is the lack of funds to repatriate their remains to my home (Zimbabwe).”
Describing the scene, SABC reported that the area is littered with illegal electrical connections, with wires criss-crossing the streets, supplying houses and businesses in the community.
North West Police spokesperson Brigadier Sebata Mokgwabone confirmed the incident. “The children were found with what appeared to be burn wounds. We can confirm that there is another inquest docket concerning a man who was allegedly electrocuted in October 2023.”
Community members who gathered for a memorial service said incidents of electrocution are on the rise and called on the country’s government to intervene. They said they were struggling to gather funds amongst themselves to help the family repatriate the bodies, but they need help.
One of the community members appealed to well-wishers to contribute funds to help repatriate the bodies to Zimbabwe.
onlinemedia
derick.khumalo