A MAN was killed when bricks from an incomplete house collapsed on him.
Zolani Muku (32) was allegedly removing bricks from a semi-detached double-storey house in Motherwell NU 29.
His father, Msondezi Muku (51), said his son was part of a group of angry residents who decided to demolish the unoccupied house in the kasi because it was a criminals’ den.
“What happened to my son is very painful. He was literally buried alive. The group was trying to remove a block and disturbed the support wall, which triggered the collapse.”
A resident said addicts were breaking down incomplete RDPs to sell the bricks to people extending their houses. “He was with his friends demolishing the house when the wall collapsed on him.”
Msondezi blames the municipality for what happened to his son. “If those houses were occupied or demolished, my son would still be alive.”
Msondezi claimed his son was not the first victim. Two months ago residents found the burnt body of a 14-year-old who had been raped and set alight.
Community leader Khaya Pasiya said: “We have been asking the municipality to demolish or give away the houses to homeless people. We will call a community meeting to decide on a way forward. We want to know where the municipality stands on the issue.”
Sibongile Dimbaza, spokesman for the Nelson Mandela Bay mayor, said: “The municipality has been trying to stop vandalism by Motherwell NU 29 people. We can’t take responsibility if a person died doing something illegal.”
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said police would open an inquest.
