Families demand answers after deadly construction collapse in Ballito
Community praised for rallying around rescue teams.
The families of the five construction workers buried alive in a site collapse on Saturday are demanding answers.
Only one of the five men – Godesa Siyembo Mahubeni (38) – was miraculously discovered alive after being buried in sand for six hours.
The site proved dangerous and rescuers had to proceed with extreme caution to avoid being injured by further collapses while they looked for possible survivors.
Sinikiwe Linyana (30), Loyosi Mahubeni (22), Andile Chagu (37), and Ezile Ndyebo (22) were all removed in body bags.
Godesa’s rescue proved difficult as his legs were trapped beneath one of the gabions they were installing.
Once discovered, removing him took about three hours, with an anaesthetist and surgeon standing by should they have needed to amputate his legs on site.
A pocket of air trapped by a gabion is believed to be what kept him alive.
All the labourers are from the Eastern Cape and stayed at Chapas, an informal settlement near Cornubia.According to police spokesperson, colonel Robert Netshiunda, 14 construction workers (employed by a local company) were working at the bottom of a steep slope constructing a gabion retaining wall at the site when the wall collapsed and buried the men.
This is the second largest construction accident on the North Coast after a collpase at the Tongaat Mall in 2013, in which two employees died and 29 were injured.
Chapas resident Pamela Mahubeni, who lost her son Loyosi in the collapse, said she wanted justice and answers from the construction company.
“I want to know what safety measures were put in place to ensure the workers’ safety. These are not animals; these are people with families. There’s a lot that needs to be explained here,” said the grieving mother.
A scheduled meeting between the affected families and the construction company at KwaDukuza Saps was abandoned after the families demanded the presence of the company CEO and safety officer.
“They said they would take care of the funeral costs, but that’s not enough. We want the CEO and safety officer to speak with us and explain how this happened,” said one of the victim’s relatives.
A neighbour, Tom du Toit, said he heard a scream from the construction site just before 9am.
He went to investigate and found a panicked foreman shouting that the wall had collapsed and there were workers underneath.
“I told my missus to call IPSS and I grabbed my spade and jumped over the wall. We began digging and a lady from IPSS Search and Rescue arrived, followed by other first responders. I then stood aside and let the professionals handle the situation. It was very disturbing to witness and I am glad that at least one life was saved,” said Du Toit.
IPSS Medical Rescue owner Dylan Meyrick praised Andile Mjoli, a TLB operator from 007 Plant Hire, for his skills and professionalism.
“His actions ensured the safety of the victim and all those on the scene, significantly shortening the day,” said Meyrick.
He also expressed gratitude to Ballito businesses and the community for their support.
“The response for equipment and refreshments was incredible. There was enough food to feed an army, and rescuers and on-site supporters were well looked after,” said Meyrick.
KwaDukuza mayor Lindile Nhaca said they would support the Department of Labour and Employment’s investigation in line with occupational health and safety compliance.
The municipality will present all relevant documentation to regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies. She cautioned against public speculation about the cause of the tragedy while investigations were underway.
“We confirm that the property owner applied and received approval for the building plans in compliance with the National Building Regulations Act. We appreciate the support and tolerance of neighbours during the recovery and search operations.” A police inquiry is underway.
iLembe Chamber CEO Cobus Oelefse announced that the Chamber has set up a support fund for the dependents of those who lost their lives.
Similar support was provided in August 2015 when 18 passengers lost their lives in a taxi accident.
“The loss of a breadwinner has a devastating impact on their loved ones. Breadwinners in our region often do not have access to funeral policies or provident fund benefits associated with larger employers,” said Oelofse.
Donations can be deposited into the following account:
Bank: Nedbank
Account name: iLembe Chamber of Commerce
Account number: 1003371612
Branch code: 198765
All donations must be prefixed with ‘Zen’ to ensure the contribution is added to the relief fund.
If you would like more information, you can reach Ntombifuthi Mavundla at 087 354 6343 or ntombifuthi@ilembechamber.co.za.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.
