By: Natasha Archary
Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader, Mmusi Maimane will be laying culpable homicide charges against government following the tragic death of a 3-year old due to loadshedding.
On Thursday, 25 May, 3-year old Neyamiah Eaton from Bromhof, Johannesburg, died in her mother’s arms en-route to hospital, after the inverter for her breathing machine ran out of power due to ongoing outages in the area.
Neyamiah suffered from a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, Woree Syndrome, which features drug-resistant epilepsy and global developmental delay.
Maimane spoke to Phemelo Motene on Point of View about plans to open a case of culpable homicide against the state after 3-year-old Neyamiah Eaton died.
Listen to the full conversation:
The child’s family rushed her to hospital after the inverter that powered her breathing machine could not be charged.
Despite the family’s attempts to nebulise Neyamiah, rolling blackouts due to loadshedding and subsequent planned outages for maintenance, resulted in the toddler’s death.
The father of 3 year old, Curwyn Eaton also spoke to Phemelo Motene on Point of View:
The family claims that although power was restored after loadshedding, four hours later, an extended outage in the are meant the battery for the inverter ran flat.
Now, Mmusi Maimane is committed to holding the State, especially Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and the President accountable for little Neyamiah’s death.
“Somewhere deep within the lack of consciousness in government they want to see more lives lost. I cannot sit back and allow this injustice to continue.
So, I will be opening a case of culpable homicide against respective ministers in the energy cluster, particularly, Pravin Gordhan, and against government because I really believe they need to be charged.
How many more lives must be lost before decisive action is taken?”
Mmusi Maimane to open culpable homicide charge against government for death of 3-year old due to loadshedding
Maimane is appealing to corporates in the country to donate more inverters to hospitals and families who are in a similar situation as Neyamiah’s family.
The BOSA leader says, little Neyamiah is just one of so many South African’s who lost their lives as a result of loadshedding, and says despite the court order giving government 60-days to exempt hospitals, police stations and schools from the rolling blackouts, government is now opposing the order.
Also read: Hammanskraal cholera death toll climbs to 23
