Tragedy struck at a local factory in Sunderland Ridge recently, after a construction worker died and his colleague sustained serious injuries. It is believed that they were digging a trench to install pipes at the factory, known as ‘Ferre-Better Cooking’ on Barolong Street in Sunderland Ridge, when a nearby wall collapsed on the pair.
The tragedy that occurred last Wednesday (November 6) has left fellow workers in shock. 23 year old Moeketse Hlalele from Lesotho, who was living temporarily in Soweto due to being employed in South Africa, was contracted to the ‘All Set Construction Company’ and unfortunately died while on duty. His colleague 49 year old Harrington Matsetlu also from Soweto was rushed to hospital due to the serious injuries he sustained. A Security guard from Ferre – Better Cooking Company in Sunderland Ridge, Freddy Makhubela told the Laudium Sun that the company that he is working for specializes in assembling stoves and kitchen electrical appliances, adding, “When this tragedy happened I was not at work. However, when I came on duty the following day, I heard about the accident from my colleagues, who were talking that there were two construction workers who were injured, with one of them subsequently dying. When I asked them what exactly happened to these construction workers, they told me that the two were digging a trench for some plumbing piping and unfortunately while they were digging the trench a nearby wall collapsed. There was a wall adjacent to the place where they were digging the trench and it collapsed. When the wall collapsed, it fell on top of the workers and one of the worker’s legs was broken. The other worker sustained more serious injuries as it seemed that a whole concrete block of the wall fell right on top of him, crushing him immediately. I do not know what caused the wall to collapse but I heard some people saying that the police were investigating the matter.” A witness to the tragic incident, Thabang Mabaso who was present when the incident unfolded and who worked with the deceased told the Laudium Sun, “I am very sad for the loss of the life of my friend. He and another worker were busy digging trenches to install drainage pipes. The wall fell onto them while they were inside a 2.9 meter hole. This is what caused the death of my friend and injured his colleague. My friend will be buried on Saturday in Soweto and he had no children and wife. As his colleague and friend I am very sad about what happened because Moeketse was a good man who was a hard worker and loved the construction industry and his work.”
Cousin of the deceased Kefiwe Mothopi said that after he heard the news about what had happened to his cousin he was very upset because his cousin was still very young and had a lot to live for, adding “It is very unfortunate what happened to him.” When the Laudium Sun tried to get a comment from the owners of Ferre – Better Cooking Company, the security guard, Freddy Makhubela said that the owners did not want to talk to the media.
Police spokesperson, Tshwane Communication Coordinator Johan Van Dyk told the Laudium Sun that an inquest docket was opened at the Erasmia Police Station and that police were investigating to determine the cause of death and injury.
