UPDATE: 7 March 3:30pm
The child who was injured at a house on 12th Avenue when a room collapsed and killed her brother on Tuesday has been released from Johannesburg Hospital. Zinhle Ncasana (3) was released yesterday (Thursday) and is nursing injuries to the head. According to her mother, she can walk and play with other children and is due for a review at the hospital on 12 March.
Meanwhile Ncasana is still waiting for the City of Johannesburg to inform her of the burial and other assistance which they promised to consider for her. Also, the other families which were moved to alternative accommodation with Ncasana are still waiting for further assistance from the city in particular storage for their belongings.
March 5, 4.30pm:
Ncasana had to dispel rumours that her other child injured in the same incident had also died. “I was with my child this morning (5 March) and was also informed by nursing staff and doctor that X-rays taken of her showed that her injuries where not life threatening,” she said.
She was moved to the Emergency Home of the Johannesburg City Council in Marlborough together with eight other families after the house was found unsuitable for occupation.
Although the families appreciated council’s assistance, they complained of the small rooms allocated to them. “The rooms are very small for us, our children and property. Hence, we are forced to guard what ever can’t be taken in. We hope council will come as promised to allocate us more rooms,” said 98-year-old Emely Gumede.
UPDATE: 5 March, 10am:
A 1 and-a-half year old toddler was killed when a room in 12th Avenue collapsed on him and his 3-year-old sister.
The heavy rain in Gauteng has caused a room to collapse, which crushed a 1 and a half year old toddler to death and left his sister critically injured on 12th Avenue in Alexandria yesterday morning.
The toddler’s sister was rushed to hospital for treatment. When our reporter arrived on the scene the mother, Ivy Ncasana, was believed to have gone to hospital to check on the condition of her daughter.
The room collapsed as a result of the heavy rains that have hit Johannesburg. The collapsed room crushed the toddler and critically injured his sister.
The room was attached to an old building. According to tenants who found the children, the incessant rain overnight and in the early morning may have been the cause. The owner of the building, Moses Mashao agreed, and added that the children had been alone when disaster struck.
He added that the building had many structural defects which he claims he had reported to the Department of Housing several times but nothing had been done.
“On one occasion last year, they came to check on it (the building) and seemed to suggest that it may have to be destroyed, or fixed.”
Eight families live in this building and most rooms leak during the rainy season. Also, the rooms have huge cracks which endanger their safety. Last year one of the internal walls collapsed and was repaired.
“In addition to the structural defects, the toilet is blocked consistently due to the low pressure and leakage of piped water resulting in rubbish and affluence being dumped in make-shift drainage in the yard,” Mashao said.
The Disaster Management Unit and Emergency Management Services of the City of Johannesburg were on hand to help the families. They had moved them out of the building while arranging alternative accommodation.
Also, the council’s Social Development Department was present to register them for support. Morwesi Motlana of the department said, “Our assessment of the situation will inform us on what assistance to give these families like food parcels, clothing and other items… As this is a crisis we will act quickly, in particular for the bereaved family who are likely to receive social burial assistance,” she said.
