Mother secures damages after child's transformer electrocution

THE mother of a two-year-old who was electrocuted by an electric transformer while playing in an area close to the transformer succeeded in her damages claim against the King Sabato Dalindyebo Municipality in the Eastern Cape after her child suffered severe injuries as a result.

- ZELDA VENTER

The mother turned to the Mthatha High Court as she held the municipality responsible for her child’s injuries. She told the court that the municipality had a duty to safeguard residents from harm.

On June 6, 2022, the child and other children of the neighbourhood were playing in Thole Street, Ngangelizwe, Mthatha, near the transformer.

Moments later, the child was found lying under the transformer, unresponsive, with burn wounds on both her forearms and hands. She was admitted to the hospital, where she received treatment for burn wounds, including a skin graft operation.

The transformer was a step-down transformer, used by the municipality to convert high voltage electricity of 11 000 volts to 400 volts for consumption by domestic consumers.