Durban residents are reeling after a series of tragic incidents involving elevator shafts in residential buildings. The latest incident involves the Dlamini twins, Aphile and Aphelele, who fell four floors to the basement of their Durban CBD apartment block last Saturday. The seven-year-olds were playing with friends when they fell into the open lift shaft. Tragically, the boy died in hospital, while his sister remains in critical condition.
Their father, Khayelihle Khumalo, is considering legal action, alleging the lift was malfunctioning and lacked warning signs. He recounted the horrifying discovery: "I heard a knock at the door... they pointed the door of a lift. When I pushed the door open, there was no lift but just an open shaft. I saw something white down in the basement. I knew that was my son’s shirt."
Khumalo described the scene as utterly devastating, finding his children severely injured. "Bleeding excessively from the eyes, the nose, ears and mouth... He was not breathing."
This tragedy follows another recent incident where a second-year UKZN student died after falling down a lift shaft in the same Durban building. Her family is also suing Homii Lifestyle, the company that owns the building.
KwaZulu-Natal police have opened an inquest docket into the Dlamini twins' case. Homii Lifestyle has confirmed the incident and stated a full investigation is underway, emphasizing tenant safety as their top priority. They have declined further comment due to pending legal action.
These incidents have sparked widespread concern and prompted troubling accounts from other residents on social media, raising serious questions about building safety and maintenance standards in Durban. Is enough being done to protect residents from preventable accidents?
What To Do If You Suspect a Faulty Lift
- Report issues to building management immediately.
- Avoid using lifts that appear to be malfunctioning.
- Ensure children are supervised near lifts.