A bizarre security measure, consisting of live wiring fitted on a home in an informal settlement to prevent theft, has allegedly caused the death of a 12-year-old boy at the weekend.
The family of Aldane Paulus believes that their child was electrocuted when he slipped and clutched an electrified corrugated iron sheet of a shack in Greenwood Park's Havelock informal settlement.
His mother, Crystal Stork, said her son had been playing with other boys on Saturday afternoon when he was electrocuted.
"I was hanging up my washing when one of his friends ran up to me to tell me that my son had been electrocuted and that he was not moving. He told me that they had been playing and that my son grabbed the roof of the shack and died."
She said her son, a Grade 8 pupil at Parkhill Secondary School, was a keen soccer fan and had been counting the days to the World Cup.
"He always talked about the World Cup and hoped that Argentina will win the tournament. He loved soccer and Lionel Messi," Stork said.
Police Captain Thulani Zwane yesterday confirmed that an inquest docket had been opened. He said the police were still investigating the cause of death.
The owner of the shack has since fled the area and police are searching for him.
The boy's uncle, Gerrard Paulus, said he had been told by the shack dwellers that the man electrified his shack to prevent people from breaking in.
"We understand that the people steal the electricity by making illegal connections to their homes from nearby powerlines, but this man had deliberately electrified his shack to prevent break-ins. I was also told that he did the same to his car. We have kids running and playing there. I think this man was selfish to take his safety this far."
It is believed that nine children have sustained injuries from the electrified shack so far.
Melanie Fritz, a nurse who lives nearby, said such cases should be taken seriously.
She said Aldane's friends were traumatised by the incident and would have to get counselling.
Another neighbour, Dan Nguta, said his child had almost been electrocuted and he had warned the man of the dangers posed by his electrified shack.
"My son was badly affected by the electric shock. The next day I went to see the man and warned him about the dangers," Nguta said.
He said it was clear that the man had not heeded the warning and a child had died.
The ward councillor, Rabi Gobind, said there were 11 informal settlements in his ward and they all used illegal connections. He said he would follow the matter up.
Electricity department official Deena Govender, said the municipality lost about R120 million from electricity and cable theft annually.
He said the municipality had a plan to rectify illegal connections but would have to deal with each settlement individually. He said challenges facing the municipality included that some of the shacks were built on private property and others in difficult terrain.
That said, it is sad that someone innocent had to die as a result 
