A Helderberg household is suffering the loss of a breadwinner who was one of two construction workers killed in an accident at a CSV site in Mitchells Plain.
In the incident in Rocklands last Tuesday morning (11 October), the men were working in a manhole along a sewer line in Sea Otter Street and were allegedly exposed to hazardous sewage waste fumes. The deceased were identified as Thembela Mapoyi (35) from Philippi and Sibongiseni Johan Lubanka (45) from Macassar.
Another, identified as the foreman, was hospitalised for medical treatment after possible contamination during a failed attempt to rescue his colleagues.
In a statement, provincial police said the Mitchells Plain police responded to the incident around 12:30, after one of the workers reportedly retrieved a suction bag that had got stuck. On his exit, the manhole apparently collapsed.
“His co-worker, in a rescue attempt, was overcome by gasses and too collapsed while trying to get out. The foreman attempted to rescue the second worker, but was forced to abandon efforts due to the fumes and managed to make alarm,” the statement said.
The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services deployed teams who worked alongside the police’s diving unit to retrieve the bodies of the deceased. According to police reports the body of one of the men was recovered following the incident. However, a search launched for the other was called off and successfully resumed the following day (Wednesday).
Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for Fire and Rescue Services, said the first body was retrieved around 12:15 on Tuesday and the second around 06:00 on Wednesday, after the search had resumed an hour before.
Police have opened an inquest docket for further investigation.
CSV Construction director Hannes Coetzee, on enquiry, said: “We at CSV Construction are deeply saddened by the accident that took place on site, claiming the lives of our colleagues. We extend our heartfelt condolences to their families, friends and colleagues, and will continue our support for the families and employees of CSV Construction.”
He added that CSV is actively involved in the ongoing site investigation along with the Department of Labour, and looked forward to gaining more insight into the tragedy. “Given the investigation is still ongoing and out of respect to the families, we are unfortunately unable to provide more information at this time,” Coetzee said.
In the aftermath of the incident, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the Western Cape, said it continues to engage both the company and the Department of Labour and Employment as part of the investigation.
“We will independently interrogate the company’s safety procedures, risk assessment plans and all related policies,” NUM said in statement.
Lubanka is survived by his 61-year-old father, Themba Steven Lubanka, and his girlfriend Vuyokazi Tyumbu (30), both with whom he lived. The bereave loved ones expressed their devastation when called by their breadwinner’s employer to inform them of what had occurred.
“We are deeply saddened,” said the elder Lubanka, a pensioner. The deceased was his only son.
The retired farmworker shared Lubanka was raised by his mother in Transkei and moved in with his father after relocating from the Eastern Cape some years ago. He hoped to have him buried in the Helderberg, where his mother was laid to rest after a fatal illness more than 20 years ago.
VAnyone with information that could aid the police investigation can contact the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Vuyan Claassen of the Mitchells Plain Crime Investigation Department, on 021 370 1680.
