Lenasia mother of 4 dies after power outage cuts off oxygen support during cold snap

The community of Lenasia is reeling following the tragic death of Rehana Pillay, a mother of four who succumbed to her health struggles during a recent power failure. Pillay, who was medically dependent on powered oxygen support, faced a critical emergency when the electricity cut out during a period of freezing temperatures.

Her husband, Dean, and their children—Ashwin, Ashton, Bryton, and Mikaila—are now mourning a woman described by friends as a deeply devoted and caring parent. Despite the family's quick actions to get her to a medical facility, she could not be revived.

A Race Against Time

As Pillay's condition rapidly declined in the dark, her family sought urgent help. The family expressed their gratitude to the LHC Ambulance Service for their rapid response during the crisis, though the outcome remained heartbreaking.

The funeral for the late mother is scheduled for Friday, 14 August 2026. Services will begin at the family residence on Hydrangea Avenue before moving to the Mission for Jesus Church in Extension 13 for the final farewell.

The Dangers of an Unreliable Grid

This tragedy has once again highlighted the precarious situation faced by South Africans living with chronic illnesses. For those reliant on machines to breathe, a simple outage represents a life-or-death situation rather than a mere inconvenience.

Public frustration is mounting as citizens recall similar incidents, including the 2023 death of three-year-old Neyamiah Eaton. In that case, the child’s breathing equipment failed after backup systems were exhausted during prolonged load shedding in Randburg.

As the Pillay family prepares to lay Rehana to rest, they have asked the public for prayers and support. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the human cost associated with the country's ongoing energy instability.