A well-known village izinyoka was electrocuted in Mandela Park Village, QwaQwa in the Free State on Thursday, 23 October.
The izinyoka allegedly tampered with a huge transformer in broad daylight.
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The villagers were shocked to hear a loud noise from a transformer, followed by a scream.
They rushed to the scene and found the izinyoka slumped next to the transformer, severely burnt all over his body.
Villagers said that the victim had been caught and punished multiple times by community patrols for allegedly stealing cables and vandalising Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality’s electricity infrastructure.
“It was a shocking moment to see someone sitting next to the transformer with severe burns. We only recognised him when we got closer.”
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t assist him and had to wait for the ambulance to arrive,” said a 46-year-old villager.
The izinyoka was rushed to hospital for further medical treatment.
This marks the second incident involving an izinyoka who has been punished by electrocution after allegedly tampering with electricity infrastructure.
Maluti-a-Phofung municipal spokesman Thabo Kessah said that an investigation into the incident will be launched.
“We’ve taken note of the social media reports about a person tampering with our electricity infrastructure.”
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“We strongly condemn such acts of vandalism and cable theft, which have been plaguing our systems.”
“A thorough investigation will be conducted to get to the bottom of this matter,” he said.
