Lenasia Mother of 4 Dies After Power Outage Cuts Off Oxygen Support During Cold Snap

• A Lenasia mother of four who depended on oxygen support at home, passed away after a prolonged electricity outage
• Her husband and their four children are being supported by a community left devastated by the loss
• The tragedy has prompted urgent calls for authorities to protect households that rely on electricity for medical care

GAUTENG - A Lenasia family is grieving after a power outage and bitterly cold temperatures contributed to the death of a wife and mother who depended on oxygen support to survive.

A report by Central News indicated that Rehana Pillay's condition deteriorated during a prolonged electricity outage this week. Her family rushed her to hospital, but she could not be saved.

Pillay is survived by her husband, Dean, and their four children: Ashwin, Ashton, Bryton and Mikaila. Those who knew her described her as a devoted and caring mother who was always present for her family. News of her passing sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Lenasia community.

Read also

Rugby player dies aged 34 after alleged altercation with security guard

The family acknowledged LHC Ambulance Service for responding swiftly during the emergency.

Funeral set for Friday

The Pillay family has opened their doors to anyone wishing to pay their respects. The funeral service will be held on Friday, 14 August 2026, beginning at 8am at the family home at 51 Hydrangea Avenue in Lenasia, before proceeding to Mission for Jesus Church at 33 Dimpel Street, Extension 13, Lenasia. The family has asked for prayers and support as they navigate this painful period.

See post here:

Power outages and medical risk

Pillay's death has reignited a difficult conversation about the dangers that electricity outages pose to South Africans who depend on powered medical equipment at home.

For patients who rely on oxygen machines and other life-sustaining devices, even a few hours without power can become life-threatening.

The family has requested that the community keep them in their thoughts and prayers during this time.

Oxygen dependant child dies during load shedding

In similar news, South Africans refleced on a tragic 2023 incident involving the death of a young child, as fresh outrage grows around ongoing allegations linked to Eskom. A viral video posted on 22 April 2026 brought attention back to the story of three-year-old Neyamiah Eaton, who died after her home breathing machine stopped working during load shedding. The incident happened in Bromhof, Randburg, where prolonged outages caused her backup system to fail, leaving her without life-support equipment.

Read also

Missing Milano Tlali: Ransom demand surfaces as search for continues for two-year-old boy

Family loses home after load shedding

Briefly News reported that a family was left homeless with just the clothes on their back after their home was destroyed allegedly by an electrical explosion after load shedding. Fortunately, no one was injured during the blaze. The fire allegedly ignited due to a power surge when electricity returned after loadshedding on Friday, 9 September. Neighbours of the Dlisani family attempted to put out the fire with buckets of water, but their attempts went in vain.

Source: Briefly News