Man electrocuted while allegedly stealing railway cables in Henley on Klip

A man was electrocuted and died instantly on Thursday, 17 July, afternoon while allegedly attempting to steal railway cables along the Henley on Klip railway line in Meyerton.

According to Meyerton SAPS, the incident occurred around 14:00. Officers responded to a report of an inquest and arrived to find the body of an unidentified African male lying near the tracks. He was dressed in a black, red and white Adidas tracksuit bottom, a blue tracksuit top and black Adidas sneakers.

Preliminary reports suggest the man was trying to cut live electrical cables when he was fatally electrocuted. Meyerton SAPS Communication Officer, Constable Nompumelelo Zazini, issued a stern warning: “We urge the public to refrain from tampering with critical infrastructure. These acts are not only illegal but extremely dangerous and often deadly.”

The man’s identity remains unknown and police are appealing to the public for any information that could assist in identifying him. The attempted cable theft also caused damage to the railway’s electrical systems, with sections of cable visibly cut.

The deceased was transported to Sebokeng Mortuary for further investigation and possible identification. An inquest docket has been opened, and police investigations are ongoing.

Cable theft continues to be a serious issue in the region, contributing to service disruptions, economic loss and, in this case, a tragic loss of life.

Images: Constable Zazini