“Tragedy Two Children Electrocuted by Illegal Connection”

Two young children sadly passed away when they were electrocuted at an informal settlement in Pretoria West.

According to Daily Sun, On Saturday, 13 September, Ofentse Mfumadi (7) and her friend Phemelo Ngema (7) were playing at Iscor informal settlement when the tragedy happened.

The community allegedly found the kids lying on the ground and rushed them to a local hospital, where they were declared dead.

Sinethemba Ngema (26) said her daughter, Phemelo was a grade 1 pupil at Matseke Primary School in Atteridgeville, Tshwane.

She said the incident happened in the afternoon, and the kids were declared dead when they arrived at the hospital.

The family is pleading for help to bury their little girl.

“My daughter was playing with her friends when she was electrocuted by illegal electricity. My daughter died with her little friend, Ofentse. I’m traumatised. She is my only girl. I was struggling to raise her,” she said.

She said her daughter was her friend – they spent time together and slept together.

“My daughter loved playing games on my smartphone,” she said.

Sinethemba said Phemelo will be laid to rest on Saturday, 20 September 2025, in Zebediela, Limpopo.

Friend Lelethu Mandleni (26) said: “We are heartbroken about her death. She was a lovely and respectful girl.”

Tebogo Mfumadi’s four-year-old daughter, Ofentse, died after being electrocuted while playing with a friend. Photo by Raymond Morare

Tebogo Mfumadi, Ofentse’s dad, said he received a shocking call while at work.

“My daughter went to play with a friend. This is hurting, and I can’t believe I lost my daughter,” he said.

He said his daughter will be laid to rest in Botlokwa, Nyakelani, Limpopo.

Community leader Sello Thupi said he rushed to the scene and found the kids lying on the ground.

“I don’t know anything about first aid. I was shaking, and we decided to rush the kids to the hospital. We are in pain as a community,” he said.

Sello said they are pleading with the municipality to relocate them to a safer place.

“We want proper water and electricity. We will pay the bills. There is a drain around the informal settlement and a powerline above our shacks,” he said.

He said they were evicted from the area in 2010 and built shacks there.

Police investigate the matter
Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said: “Police have opened an inquest docket for investigation.”