Store customer electrocuted
‘I WANT my life back.’
A 24-year old student Thembekile Mabusie Sithole is in constant agony and unable to use her right arm and hand after she was electrocuted inside Boxer Superstore in Empangeni last month.
As a result, this second-year student at Tshwane University of Technology couldn’t write her final exams for her contact centre management diploma, and will have to repeat the three modules.
According to this young mother from Ntambanana, on 22 February she was about to pay for her goods at the store till when sparks flew and she was electrocuted.
‘I tried to move but I couldn’t and when I was able to, I bumped into a trolley behind me and the shock intensified. The cashier managed to move away in time.
‘From that moment I couldn’t use my right hand, and a few minutes later I started experiencing severe chest pains and I couldn’t breathe or do anything,’ she said.
Thembekile said she had to borrow money from people so she could get to Ngwelezana Clinic where she spent a night sleeping on the benches while still in agony.
Since the incident, Thembekile said even small tasks, like opening a door or feeding herself, have become almost impossible.
‘I get electric shocks when touching any metal. My sister now feeds me because it’s impossible to do anything with just a left hand,’ she said.
Responding on various Facebook posts regarding the matter, Boxer Superstores said they were aware of the incident.
‘Our company is handling it with our insurers and the customer, and we are getting a specialist involved,’ said the response.
Young mother misses three exams after injury