The Nkumbini family of Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East is appealing for the community’s assistance in burying their little toddler, who was electrocuted when playing with other children in the area on Wednesday 29 October. Khwezi Nkumbini (2) died on the way to hospital.
His devastated grandmother, Nosizile Nkumbini (54), said she was busy bathing another child when the incident occurred.
“Khwezi and the other children were playing outside,” she related. “I asked his mother to look for him outside. I heard her screaming. We went outside and saw him lying on the ground near the communal toilet. His mouth had turned purple. We suspect he had put a live wire in his mouth.” Nkumbini said the whole area had illegal electrical connections, and there were unconnected live wires hanging loose, even on the ground.
Burying anybody was an impossible prospect for the family for they didn’t have the money and therefore didn’t know when or how they would bury Khwezi.
“Our plans are to bury the baby here in Marikana,” Nkumbini said, “because we don’t have money to transport his body to the Eastern Cape. We are all unemployed, including Khwezi’s mum. We survive on child-support grants. We are appealing for help from anyone who can contribute so we can give my grandchild a decent burial.”
Community leader Pamela Mayile added her call to Nkumbini’s, also appealing to the community to contribute to burying little Khwezi . She described the situation in the family as very dire.
Regarding the illegal connections in the area, Mayile said the community was informed by the City that electricity in Marikana would not be installed because these are wetlands.
