Keetmans up in arms over electricity

KEETMANSHOOP residents have called for an inquiry into the death of a child who was recently electrocuted in the Tseiblaagte residential area.

Mathias Keister (8) was killed after he touched a live wire near an electricity distribution box. Close to 50 people on Thursday marched to the Town Council’s office to demand an independent inquiry into the incident.The protesters’ spokesperson, Carl Christians, handed over a petition to the town’s Mayor, Simon Petrus Tiboth.The protesters are apparently not satisfied with a statement by the Southern Electricity Company (SELCo) that the boy was electrocuted because a “private device” inside a private yard malfunctioned.They also took a swipe at the Electricity Control Board (ECB), claiming it had not taken note of the fatal incident as watchdog of the country’s electricity network.The protesters further claimed that SELCo had failed to render quality service to the town’s residents.”The service provider and the service being rendered are not consumer friendly, they are not considering the literacy levels of their consumers, especially the poorest of the poor,” the petition says.Approached for comment, SElCo’s Managing Director, Chris Bosch, said electricity could have grave consequences when handled irresponsibly, and it was up to residents to fix malfunctioning appliances.”Electricity is a necessity, but is risky,” he warned.According to Bosch, the company continuously educates consumers about the dangers of electricity.Bosch said the company even called in the Town Council’s electrician, John Steenkamp, to determine the cause of the fatal accident.”He too [John Steenkamp] agreed that SELCo is not to be blamed, since the incident was caused because of malfunctioning private device in the yard,” Bosch said.Mayor Tiboth on Thursday expressed suspicion about Steenkamp’s inquiry.”The Council distances itself from Steenkamp’s findings, since the inquiry was done without the Council’s authorisation,” he said.He also disagreed that SELCo was educating consumers about the dangers of electricity.In addition, the protesters expressed frustration over a N$1 000 municipal fine for illegal dumping of waste.They also complained over the basic charges pensioners still have to pay, despite a Council resolution to waive the charges.The protesters claimed that Council had failed to channel relevant information to the town’s residents.Tiboth admitted that there was a communication gap between the Council and residents, but could not say how it came about.He pledged to respond on the residents’ complaints some time this week.Close to 50 people on Thursday marched to the Town Council’s office to demand an independent inquiry into the incident.The protesters’ spokesperson, Carl Christians, handed over a petition to the town’s Mayor, Simon Petrus Tiboth.The protesters are apparently not satisfied with a statement by the Southern Electricity Company (SELCo) that the boy was electrocuted because a “private device” inside a private yard malfunctioned.They also took a swipe at the Electricity Control Board (ECB), claiming it had not taken note of the fatal incident as watchdog of the country’s electricity network.The protesters further claimed that SELCo had failed to render quality service to the town’s residents.”The service provider and the service being rendered are not consumer friendly, they are not considering the literacy levels of their consumers, especially the poorest of the poor,” the petition says.Approached for comment, SElCo’s Managing Director, Chris Bosch, said electricity could have grave consequences when handled irresponsibly, and it was up to residents to fix malfunctioning appliances.”Electricity is a necessity, but is risky,” he warned.According to Bosch, the company continuously educates consumers about the dangers of electricity.Bosch said the company even called in the Town Council’s electrician, John Steenkamp, to determine the cause of the fatal accident.”He too [John Steenkamp] agreed that SELCo is not to be blamed, since the incident was caused because of malfunctioning private device in the yard,” Bosch said.Mayor Tiboth on Thursday expressed suspicion about Steenkamp’s inquiry.”The Council distances itself from Steenkamp’s findings, since the inquiry was done without the Council’s authorisation,” he said.He also disagreed that SELCo was educating consumers about the dangers of electricity.In addition, the protesters expressed frustration over a N$1 000 municipal fine for illegal dumping of waste.They also complained over the basic charges pensioners still have to pay, despite a Council resolution to waive the charges.The protesters claimed that Council had failed to channel relevant information to the town’s residents.Tiboth admitted that there was a communication gap between the Council and residents, but could not say how it came about.He pledged to respond on the residents’ complaints some time this week.