Alberton woman falls down elevator shaft
“This is an inevitable consequence of turning a blind eye to the problem for so long.”
Philiswa Nquyi (41) sustained injuries to her left arm, upper left leg, her back and has a severe concussion after she fell down an elevator shaft on Monday morning, June 25.
The incident happened at the K.G. Sentrum flats building in van Riebeeck Avenue, Alberton North at around 7.30am.
According to Holly Hulley, owner of one of the flats, Nquyi was waiting to use the lift. When the lift doors opened, she stepped inside, but the elevator was not behind the open doors. She fell down, on top of the elevator.
When the RECORD arrived on the scene, there was a fire truck and a municipal ambulance van with the woman on a stretcher inside it. The RECORD tried to get a comment from several authority members and onlookers who were on the scene, but no-one was able to or willing to give comment.
The chairman and head of trustees of K.G. Sentrum, Vaughn Potgieter, was also politely asked for any kind of comment, but he totally refused and prohibited any of his staff to say anything. He also told the RECORD journalist that she was forbidden from taking any photos.
Nquyi was admitted to the Thelle Mogoerane hospital and still remains there. She told the RECORD she sustained injuries to her left arm, the back of her upper left leg and her back, a bump on her head and she suffered a severe concussion.
She said that nobody from the building, except her boyfriend who works there, Lungile Ndleweni, has visited her to see if she is okay.
She expressed her anger at the fact that there was no warning sign put up that the elevator was not working.
“I am planning to demand compensation for my suffering because I can’t do anything on my own now and I have children to take care of as well,” Nquyi said.
Hulley further commented: “It’s been going on for more than 10 years that both the elevators in this building do not work properly and unfortunately, this is an inevitable consequence of turning a blind eye to the problem for so long.
“The building has been re-painted twice, yet the elevators haven’t been fixed,” she continued.
“There are elderly residents of this building who hardly manage to climb so many stairs every day. It is just unacceptable and horrible that this had to happen to that poor woman. I hope she will be okay.”
The RECORD was asked to call Mawer and Delport, a real estate company that acts as managing agents for the building. We did this numerous times, but no success. They did not give comment.
On behalf of Mawer and Delport, Minnie Schutte said that she was unaware of what happened and that they can regrettably not give any comment. Jaco Greeff, financial director of the company, also did not want to comment.
The RECORD called Mawer and Delport, a real estate company that are the managing agents of KG Sentrum, for comment. Mawer and Delport’s Minnie Schutte said that she was unaware of what happened and that they can regrettably not give any comment. Jaco Greeff, financial director of the company, also did not want to comment.
Updates on the incident will follow as soon as a possible.
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