Three days after a teenage girl died from her injuries after being electrocuted in her King William’s Town home, Buffalo City Metro has given a confused reason for her death.
After numerous requests for comment, BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese finally sent a brief WhatsApp message late yesterday afternoon.
However, the information in the message was not clear and although he was asked to explain it, Matebese requested the paper run it as is.
The message, with its original spelling and punctuation, is as follows:
“A consumer reported to bisho elec offices at 13h51 a power outage. on investigation the operator reported the breaker had stripped an over current. after patrolling the overhead line and not finding a fault, power was restored at 15h23.”
Grade 11 pupil Anele Ngcongco of Breidbach returned home from school on Monday afternoon to find that the area and her home had no power.
Her father Leslie Ngcongco said the family normally turned the switch off at the mains board during outages.
When the power came back on shortly after 3pm Anele went to main electrical box in the garage and turned on the main switch.
She then went to one of the bedrooms and switched on the light, which caused an explosion in the room.
Anele was electrocuted while the room caught fire and she suffered severe burns. She died as a result of her injuries in Life Beacon Bay in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The Dispatch forwarded Matebese’s response to the deceased’s parents.
Anele’s heartbroken mother Thandeka Ngcongco said she did not understand the response.
“It does not make sense. I think they are trying to defend themselves. The power was too much that day and we are now scared to use it not knowing if it is going to cause an explanation again,” Ngcongco said.
Meanwhile Anele’s teary memorial service was held at the Breidbach Methodist Church yesterday. She was a learner at Breidbach Secondary School.
School teacher Benjamin Mentoor said there was a great turnout.
“It was a very emotional service especially for the schoolmates,” he said.
The 17-year-old will be buried next week Saturday.
BCM fails to explain power cut tragedy
Three days after a teenage girl died from her injuries after being electrocuted in her King William’s Town home, Buffalo City Metro has given a confused reason for her death.
After numerous requests for comment, BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese finally sent a brief WhatsApp message late yesterday afternoon.
However, the information in the message was not clear and although he was asked to explain it, Matebese requested the paper run it as is.
The message, with its original spelling and punctuation, is as follows:
“A consumer reported to bisho elec offices at 13h51 a power outage. on investigation the operator reported the breaker had stripped an over current. after patrolling the overhead line and not finding a fault, power was restored at 15h23.”
Grade 11 pupil Anele Ngcongco of Breidbach returned home from school on Monday afternoon to find that the area and her home had no power.
Her father Leslie Ngcongco said the family normally turned the switch off at the mains board during outages.
When the power came back on shortly after 3pm Anele went to main electrical box in the garage and turned on the main switch.
She then went to one of the bedrooms and switched on the light, which caused an explosion in the room.
Anele was electrocuted while the room caught fire and she suffered severe burns. She died as a result of her injuries in Life Beacon Bay in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The Dispatch forwarded Matebese’s response to the deceased’s parents.
Anele’s heartbroken mother Thandeka Ngcongco said she did not understand the response.
“It does not make sense. I think they are trying to defend themselves. The power was too much that day and we are now scared to use it not knowing if it is going to cause an explanation again,” Ngcongco said.
Meanwhile Anele’s teary memorial service was held at the Breidbach Methodist Church yesterday. She was a learner at Breidbach Secondary School.
School teacher Benjamin Mentoor said there was a great turnout.
“It was a very emotional service especially for the schoolmates,” he said.
The 17-year-old will be buried next week Saturday.
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