A 45-year-old man died after being electrocuted while privately trying to repair an electricity cable damaged during road-grading work at Njhakanjhaka village in the Bungeni area. Waterval police have opened an inquest docket following the incident, which happened on Tuesday, 5 May, at about 13:40.
According to Vhembe police spokesperson Captain Vuledzani Dathi, the victim was trying to fix an electrical fault when he allegedly came into contact with a live electric cable. “He was electrocuted and died at the scene,” said Dathi.
A witness said a grader had been working on a gravel road in the area when it damaged an electricity connection outside a household, affecting the electricity supply to the house.
The witness said the man was called to attend to the problem. When he arrived, he allegedly found a live cable lying in the street. He touched it and was electrocuted.
During a visit to the area on Thursday, 7 May, Eskom officials were seen visiting the family at the house where the incident happened. The death has raised questions about whether proper safety procedures were followed after the cable was damaged.
Police said investigations are continuing.