The Gauteng Provincial Legislature has called on the City of Tshwane to conduct a thorough investigation into the high-mast light ring incident in Soshanguve.
Five children died after a high-mast light ring apparently fell on them in Ward 27 in Soshanguve on Saturday afternoon.
The incident occurred when the children, aged between five and 12, were playing around it. Four of the children died on the scene and the fifth died in hospital. According to media reports, City of Tshwane officials believe the light post may have been tampered with by cable thieves.
“The Portfolio Committee [on the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs] is dismayed that this incident undermines the mandate of cooperative governance and urges the municipality to conduct a thorough investigation and provide feedback on the findings as well as mitigating measures to ensure such tragedies do not occur in the future,” Committee chair Mohatla Tseki said on Tuesday.
Tseki said they are deeply saddened by this unforeseen tragedy.
“It is unfortunate that the incident has taken the lives of these young children and robbed their families and the province of future leaders. The Portfolio Committee shares in the province’s tragic loss and is availing itself to provide appropriate support where needed and urges everyone else to do the same,” said Tseki.
The committee members will be visiting the families of the deceased to offer support and condolences later this week. – SAnews.gov.za
