3 men die of shock in Khayelitsha

By Ilhaam Hoosain
03 March 2008

Three workers who were working on the Khayelitsha Rail Extension Project died from electric shock on Monday, just before lunch. The incident happened between Harare and Kuyasa in Khayelitsha.

“I am extremely shocked and completely outraged by the incident where three people died as a result of electric shock and it is such a sad day for the community of Khayelitsha and their loved ones,” says Counsellor Masizole Mnqasela.

He goes on to say that it becomes a challenge where people have to go to work only to encounter such challenges where they have to die on site.

“It is a tragedy; however we expect the company that has employed them, together with all the role players involved that is the SA Rail Commuter Corporation, Department of Provincial Transport and the City of Cape Town, to work hand in glove to try and expedite this matter so that these people are given the due respect and that we pay a last tribute to them,” says Mnqasela .

Mnqasela says that these employees were vulnerable to that situation because of the manner in which they’ve been operating in and the circumstances on site. There are two other people in hospital as the result of electric shock.

The South African Rail Commuter Corporation was unavailable for comment.