A SEWAGE pipe has crushed 11-year-old Thobile Madonsela to death while playing on Wednesday afternoon, 29 November, at Lakeside in the Vaal.
Thobile’s grandfather Pastor Vusumuzi Qwabe (50) from Sebokeng zone 3 said the last time he saw his grandson was around 5pm when he opened the gate and garage for him.
He then went to play with his friends but a few minutes later, the friends came back home crying.
Although they could not explain in detail what had happened, they led the grandfather to the scene.
Pastor Vusumuzi told Daily Sun that Thobile and his friends were on their way to the sports ground but on the way, they decided to join other kids who were playing on sewage pipes that were left in the area by a contractor five months ago.
Thobile fell between the huge pipes and got crushed.
According to Pastor Vusumuzi, Ward Councillor Tumi Mochawe arrived at the scene with a resident who is a paramedic.
Thobile was rushed to Levai Mbatha Clinic and although he was bleeding heavily, he was still breathing.
He was referred to Sebokeng Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Annah Qwabe (49) said her grandson was happy the previous night, fitting on the Christmas clothes they had bought for him.
Annah said residents had been complaining about the pipes for a long time and it was sad the contractor only removed them a day after Thobile had died.
Anna said the safety officer of the contract, the contractor and the municipality should take responsibility for the accident.
Mochawe said he had also been complaining to the municipality to remove the pipes left by the contractor, but nothing happened.
He said if it wasn’t for the negligence of the contractor and Emfuleni Local Municipality, Thobile would still be alive.
“We’ve been asking for the contractor to remove the pipes as he had abandoned construction. Now a family has lost their son due to negligence. We want justice for Thobile,’’ said Mochawe.
Mayor Sipho Radebe visited the family on Friday, 2 December, and promised that the municipality would deal with the contractor.
Radebe further said they didn’t know why the contractor had abandoned the project as he was supposed to have finished it five months ago.
Steve Mooke contract manager of AL Mphago Civil Construction said that the pipes belongs to the municipality as the contractor took its equipment and working material, living only municipality material.
Mooke said the municipality should take responsibility of the death of Thobile Madonsela and he is sending his deepest condolences to the family, he said.
Police spokesman Sergeant Shaan Motsapi said police were investigating an inquest docket.
