The mother of a child (2) who was electrocuted by an electric transformer and suffered severe injuries while playing in an area close to the transformer succeeded in her damages claim against the King Sabato Dalindyebo Municipality.

According to The Star, the mother turned to the Eastern Cape High Court (Mthatha) to hold the municipality responsible for her child’s injuries.

On 6 June 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.

The mother said that before the incident, a local community member warned the municipality the transformer was dangerous but nothing was done as it was left open and uncovered.

According to the municipality’s witnesses it had erected a fence around the transformer years ago and therefore deemed it to be safe.

The court said that even if it accepted this evidence, the municipality’s conduct would still have fallen short of the standard of care which could be expected of it.

There is also some blameworthiness on the mother’s part for the injuries sustained by the child, as she left her unsupervised knowing the transformer was nearby, the court said.

But, the court added, her lack of supervision is not the sole cause of the injuries and the municipality cannot escape liability.

The quantum of damages will be determined at a later stage.

Full report in The Star