NOTSHATILE’S grieving family want Eskom to compensate them for her death after she was electrocuted by electricity cables.
Tragedy struck on 28 September when Notshatile Zagwityi (53) was in her garden at Xonyeni Village, Coffee Bay.
Strong winds caused the overhanging electric cables to snap off and attach themselves to the garden fence.
Family spokesman Mxolisi Phathekile (43) said Notshatile was climbing through a hole in the fence they used to get in and out of the garden.
She was electrocuted as she touched the fence.
He said he ran outside when he heard her screaming in pain.
“I was shocked, trying to figure out how I could help her, when a water container came out of nowhere and knocked against the fence, setting her free.
“But she had already been badly burned.”
He and other residents rushed her to the local clinic, which transferred her to Zithulele Hospital.
Doctors told them the next morning her burn wounds were too serious and she would not survive.
“I called Eskom after I was told she had died,” Mxolisi said.
He said on 2 October Eskom officials called them and asked them for a letter detailing what they wanted from the utility.
Mxolisi said they received a letter from Eskom on 5 October offering them R10 000, but the money was not deposited until after they had arranged to bury Notshatile.
“We laid her to rest on 13 October. We took out loans of over R100 000 to give her a dignified funeral.
“We want Eskom to pay the funeral costs and compensate us for the life of our sister who died because of their negligence,” he said.
Eskom spokesman Zama Mpondwana confirmed a R10 000 payment of goodwill was made in October as assistance towards Notshatile’s funeral.
“Eskom has not received any further claim to date in relation to this incident,” Mpondwana said.
