One of the three suspected cable thieves who were electrocuted when attempting to cut live cables has died in the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein. The surviving pair are still fighting for their lives at the hospital where they are receiving treatment.
Two of the three are South African citizens, while the other originates from Lesotho.
The deceased, identified as Thabiso Elson (31), reportedly succumbed to the severe burn wounds he had sustained when they were electrocuted, apparently during the act of committing a crime. It is reported that he died on 19 October. The deceased is from Bloemfontein.
The other South African is apparently from Botshabelo. However, information surrounding the man from Lesotho remains a mystery. He apparently provided little information and reported he originates from a place called Ha Masopha.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the Department of Health, confirmed that both survivors are still undergoing treatment at the Pelonomi Hospital’s multi-intensive care unit.
He said they had been admitted on 15 October with burn wounds ranging from 36% to 46% body surface after electrocution at the abandoned multistory Bloemfontein taxi rank. Each of the men sustained severe burn wounds on their face, neck, head, chest, arms, hands and stomach. They were severely burned in the event of the transformer at the taxi rank exploding.
Apparently, the trio were electrocuted while trying to cut copper cables at one of the high voltage power transformers. The men had accessed the transformer from the spruit.
Eyewitnesses told Express they became aware the men were trapped in one of the transformers when they were screaming for help.
“The screaming was just shortly after hearing a huge bang of a transformer exploding and lights going off in the building. We then went to inspect where the screams came from,” said one eyewitness.
Eyewitnesses, some of whom have businesses in the adjacent building at the Bloemfontein Railway Station, says the abandoned taxi rank is a crime hub, and dumping place too, at this infrastructure on which tax payers money was spend.
“It is common to see suspicious people walking past, carrying bags loaded with items. If you dare ask them what they are doing in this rank, you get threats,” said one person.
The Free State government had built this rank that is being ransacked at a cost of R400 million in the Bloemfontein’s CBD.
