Questions over death of Eskom worker

THE family of a slain Eskom employee went to the Springs substation where her body was found, looking for answers from officials‚ only to be met by dead flies and an unbearable stench.

The Yende family and others in the community went to the substation to picket yesterday – and to get Eskom to tell them what exactly happened to Thembisile Yende.

Her body was found 13 days after she had gone missing, in a storeroom next to Pieterboth substation.

Although it started peacefully‚ the picket turned chaotic when a group set fire to the grass adjacent to the station.

The office where Thembisile worked, as a trainee technician, was locked – and the branded Toyota Hilux bakkie she drove was parked next to it.

She worked alone on the site. Police escorted the Yende family to the office Thembisile had occupied.

They were‚ however‚ not allowed inside as the police are still investigating.

“There is an unbearable stench coming from that room,” Thembisile’s cousin, Bongi Yende, said.

“You can imagine if someone spent 10 days in a room after they had died. There were dead flies strewn on the floor.”

Bongi questioned how the bakkie Thembisile had driven was parked on the side of the building.

“Thembi would never have parked the bakkie like that. She would have parked it in front of her office so people could see she was working. She was paranoid. “Whoever parked it was hiding it.” Moses Yende‚ another cousin, said: “This story surrounding Thembi’s death doesn’t add up. On the day she was last seen‚ the security apparently left early. “Why?” he asked. Family spokesman Mboneni Yende said they wanted answers from Eskom.

“We were hoping to meet Eskom officials‚ but they did not come. We want answers. We want the CCTV footage.

“She wasn’t found the day after she was missing‚ why only on May 29?

“The police came here with dogs but they did not find her. Why? “If they missed that room‚ why? “Are you telling me the police or dogs did not smell the stench?”

Mboneni said the family would – after Thembisile’s memorial service today – go to Eskom’s head office in Megawatt Park to demand answers.