Tragic electrocution: Man found dead while attempting to steal high-voltage cables
Police in Limpopo have opened an inquest after the body of an unknown man was found trapped between two mini electrical substations in Ladanna, Polokwane, on Saturday morning.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), officers from Westenburg under the Capricorn District responded to a complaint at about 7 am on Saturday.
Upon arrival at the corner of Staal and River streets in Ladanna, police discovered the lifeless body of an unknown African male, believed to be middle-aged, stuck between two electrical substations.
Police said the deceased’s upper body was found underneath one substation, facing downwards, while the lower body was positioned beneath the adjacent substation.
Preliminary observations at the scene revealed that three electrical cables had been cut underneath the substation where the lower part of the body was located. A bolt cutter and a pair of gloves were also found next to the body.
The man sustained a visible injury to the middle of his back. His identity is still unknown at this stage.
“All relevant stakeholders were summoned to the scene for further investigation and processing,” police said.
An inquest docket has been opened and investigations are continuing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Previously, IOL reported that police at Maake, outside Tzaneen under the Mopani District in Limpopo, opened a case of inquest after a 4-year-old boy was allegedly electrocuted to death by an open live wire at Burgersdorp village.
“The child was allegedly with his siblings walking from their aunt’s place in the same village when the tragic incident happened. The children ran home to inform their mother that their younger brother was shocked by an open live wire that was lying on the ground,” Limpopo police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mamphaswa Seabi said at the time.
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