An 11-year-old boy has died after he was electrocuted in Tjovito, Orange Farm on Tuesday, 16 November after coming in contact with exposed illegal connections of open wires on the ground that were connected to a transformer supplying electricity to a nearby school.

An Eskom spokesperson said the incident took place along the Golden Highway in Orange Farm, Extension 2 in Gauteng.

The victim and a group of other boys, including his brother, were allegedly swimming in a pool of water next to the railway line when he came into contact with the open wires on the ground.

The deceased’s brother carried him to the Golden Highway, which is where the Gauteng Emergency Services declared him dead.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of this 11-year-old boy and we extend our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased,” said Eskom.

The matter is under investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Eskom. The national power supplier said it is concerned that children often fall victim to acts of criminality where electricity is openly laid across the ground.

“Illegal connections are totally unsafe as they do not only risk injury to those conducting them but also to others in the same vicinity,” said the power supplier.

Eskom said it disconnected the wires that caused the fatal electrocution. The wires were illegally connected to a transformer that powered a nearby school.

“Communities in areas with illegal connections tend to become hostile towards Eskom when removing these wires,” said Kith Maitisa, the Eskom SHEQs Manager in Gauteng.

“Of further concern to us is that many communities tend to replace the removed illegal connections just a short time after their removal.”