Man Found Dead Between Substations

Police in Limpopo have opened an inquest after the body of an unknown man was discovered trapped between two mini electrical substations in Ladanna, Polokwane, on Saturday morning.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), officers from the Westenburg police station, under the Capricorn District, responded to a complaint at about 7am. On arrival at the corner of Staal and River streets, officers found the lifeless body of an African male believed to be middle-aged.

Police said the man’s upper body was found underneath one substation, facing downwards, while his lower body was positioned beneath an adjacent substation. Preliminary observations at the scene revealed that three electrical cables had been cut underneath the substation where the lower part of the body was located. A bolt cutter and a pair of gloves were also found next to the body.

The deceased sustained a visible injury to the middle of his back. At this stage, his identity has not yet been established. “All relevant stakeholders were summoned to the scene for further investigation and processing,” police said in a statement.

An inquest docket has been opened and investigations are continuing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the man came to be trapped between the substations and the cause of his injuries.

The incident has raised renewed concerns around the dangers associated with electrical infrastructure and illegal interference with power installations, which often pose serious risks to communities and individuals.

In a separate incident previously reported in Limpopo, police in Maake, outside Tzaneen under the Mopani District, also opened an inquest after a four-year-old boy was allegedly electrocuted by an open live wire at Burgersdorp village.

At the time, Limpopo police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mamphaswa Seabi said the child had been walking with his siblings from their aunt’s home in the same village when the tragedy occurred. The children reportedly ran home to alert their mother after their younger brother was shocked by a live wire lying on the ground.

Police have urged communities to report exposed electrical cables, damaged infrastructure and suspicious activities near substations to the relevant authorities to prevent further loss of life.

Anyone with information that may assist in identifying the deceased man or shed light on the Polokwane incident is encouraged to contact their nearest police station.