A municipal worker, Mr Wilson Mpilo (51), employed in the electricity department of the Makhado Municipality, was accidentally electrocuted over the weekend when he was assisting in the reparation of an electricity line struck by lightning. Mr Mpilo was an electrical assistant at the time of his death.

According to a source at the municipality, Mpilo was part of the team that went out on Friday night to attend to a power line that had been struck by lightning, interrupting the electricity supply. The team was busy at Levubu Substation 1, next to Beja, when the accident occurred at around 01:00 on Saturday. Another employee, Edward Mbuwana, sustained serious burns to his body and was taken to the local hospital. He has been released already.

An investigation into the incident is currently being conducted by the SAPS, the municipality and the Department of Labour.