Durban Lift Tragedy Sparks Legal Action and Outrage

A Durban father is demanding justice and considering legal action after a catastrophic elevator malfunction claimed his son’s life and left his daughter fighting for her injuries. The tragic incident occurred at the Homii Flats, where the young twins were playing with friends.

Khanyisa Dlamini recounted the harrowing moment he discovered his children. He heard a knock at his door from his children’s friends, who alerted him that his son had “fell into a hole.” They directed him to a lift door.

When Dlamini pushed the elevator door open, he was met with an empty, open shaft. “I saw something white down in the basement. I knew that was my son’s shirt,” he told SABC News. He described a frantic rescue effort with other tenants to pull his critically injured children from the basement.

A Father’s Horrific Discovery

The scene was devastating. Dlamini recalled his son was not breathing and bleeding excessively from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. “My hands were full of blood. My daughter was breathing heavily and blood was coming out of her mouth and nose. I could not wait for emergency services,” he said. His son, Aphelele, later succumbed to his injuries in the ICU.

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

The elevator reportedly had no warning signs to alert residents of its dangerous condition, a point of contention that has sparked public outrage. The community’s demand for justice is now centered on holding the property management accountable.

Community Rallies for Justice

Hundreds of Durban residents gathered outside the Homii Flats in protest, demanding answers and accountability for the family. Dlamini expressed the collective frustration, stating they need to see security footage and understand exactly what happened.

“We need answers. We want the law to play its role. We want Homii to be held accountable,” Dlamini stated in an interview with IOL. The family and their supporters continue to seek justice for the Dlamini twins, a case that has highlighted critical concerns over building safety and management responsibility. The call for justice for the Dlamini twins grows louder as the community awaits a formal response and investigation findings.