WORKER ELECTROCUTED AS CRANE HITS TRANSFORMER

MATSAPHA – A 23-year-old man died after he was electrocuted by a transformer while on duty at a construction site at Sigodvweni.

The construction site is about 200 meters away from the Matsapha Police Station and next to the Matsapha KFC Drive-Thru. John Maphalala was electrocuted while working on Saturday afternoon. The young man was working for a subcontractor company under the trade name Hala Group. He was reportedly directing a crane machine, when it came into contact with a nearby transformer and he got electrocuted.

Machine

A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist rope, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It is mainly used for lifting heavy things and transporting them to other places. The employee was reportedly holding onto the crane, while they were installing shutters of a wall fence, when he got electrocuted. This reportedly happened in full view of some KFC employees and others from within the construction site. Maphalala resided at Magevini Flats. A visit to the site by this reporter yesterday found some of the employees at the construction site  going about their duties, a few metres away from the wall fence  construction where the incident took place.
There were some inspectors seen communicating with the staff and taking notes.

According to an impeccable source who witnessed the incident, it was around 4:10pm when the employees were working on the shutters of the wall fence. The source revealed that the deceased was manning the crane, when it accidentally hit the transformer. “The crane hit the transformer because where it was situated is pretty awkward and close to it. This place is quite hazardous to work at,” the source shared. The source narrated that as soon as Maphalala was electrocuted, he landed a few metres away from the site where they were working. He said an ambulance was called but there was no prompt response. The source highlighted that the employees opted using the company car to ferry Maphalala to hospital. “We are still shocked at the strange and painful occurrence, it was totally devastating,” the source disclosed. Meanwhile, Hala Group Manager Sikhalo Mokoena confirmed the death of one his employees. Mokoena mentioned that the employees were taking out shutters after casting concrete when the incident occurred.

Shutters

The manager revealed that Maphalala’s job was to loosen the shutters in the construction process. He said when the crane picked the shutter, his hand was on it and when it touched the transformer, the power was then transmitted onto him. Mokoena said the operator who was with the deceased was saved because the buttons he was using hit him twice. However, he shared that he was saved because they were insulated with rubber. The manager was of the view that it was fortunate that he was not badly injured. He also confirmed that the employees on site called an ambulance, but ended up using the company bakkie to send Maphalala to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital, where he was certified dead upon arrival.
Mokoena disclosed that the death of Maphalala was devastating to him.

“I have only realised today that I am hurt, because we lost one of the good hardworking guys. Yesterday (Saturday) was not as emotional as this morning as I could not hold back tears on the death of this young man,” he said. The manager was asked how the employee would be compensated as he had died on duty. He said for the time being, the company was engaging the family of the deceased and they would best know the determinations by the end of the week. “For now, we are prioritising on his burial and ensuring that he is properly laid to rest,” Mokoena said. The deceased’s aunt, Cynthia Mamba said they received the news of the passing of Maphalala on Saturday at around 7pm. “I was informed that he was electrocuted by an electricity cable which hit a lorry and that he fell off,” said Mamba. She expressed that they were yet to discuss funeral arrangements with the family. The aunt said the news was excruciating, but as a family they were praying for courage and strength to accept.

Police

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that a man was reported to have been electrocuted in Matsapha on Saturday afternoon. She said the man was reported dead. This is not the first incident that involves the death of an employee while at work. In March this year, this publication reported that production had to be halted at Montigny Investments in Nhlangano, after a female employee died while on duty. The employee reportedly died while working during the night shift. It was gathered that the deceased was trapped by the belt of the big machines used to process timber. The death of the employee was confirmed by Andrew Le Roux, Montigny Investments General Manager.

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