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November 3, 2014November 3, 2014

Alberton house contractor keeps mum at commission of inquiry

NOTE: Article first appeared on The Citizen website on October 29, 2014.

Question after question posed by a commission sitting in Tshwane on Wednesday into the collapsed building near Alberton which left seven people killed and nine injured, were ignored by the contractor of the Meyersdal Eco Estate when questioned.

FILE PICTURE: Paramedics on the scene in Meyersdal Eco Estate, Alberton in the south of Johannesburg on 18 August 2014 after a building collapsed. Picture Alberton Record/CNS

Errol Romburgh, a member of Romicon, the construction company that was building the luxury house at the estate when part of it collapsed, refused to answer questions posed by presiding officer, Phumudzo Maphaha.

This morning the comission heard Romburgh say he was following his legal advice to use his legal right to “not answer any incriminating questions”.

The Meyersdal Structural Collapse Incident Inquiry has been set up to further investigate the collapse that happened on August 18.

Despite Romburgh’s refusal, Maphaha continued to put questions to him about his workers and health and safety issues on site. He concluded that “recommendations will be made to the National Prosecuting Authority,” following Romburgh’s failure to comply by remaining silent.

Alberton house collapse construction worker can’t remember what happened

Several men have been injured, eight are presumed to be dead and two are still missing beneath the rubble of collapse building in Alberton, Johannesburg South. Picture: ER24 Flickr

Maphaha said the purpose was particularly to investigate the cause of the collapse that led to the deaths and injuries.

Prior to Romburgh three workers gave their testimony to the commission. They were all on site when the building collapsed but could not remember how the structure came tumbling down, only waking up later in hospital.

Collins Mohale said he was given a hard hat, boots, gloves and overall but never shown how to use them. “Not everyone wore the protective clothes,” he added.

Second witness, Patrick Moremi said in the eight years he had worked for Romicon, he had undergone no health and saftey training or medical check-ups.

Another witness and worker who survived the collapse, Sandile Mabuza gave similar testimony.

The proceedings continue.

October 19, 2014

Soshanguve told to ‘speak out’ on child killer

NOTE: Article first appeared on The Citizen website on October 18, 2014.

Nine year old, Veronicah Mofokeng was laid to rest today after disappearing from her father’s Soshanguve home last month. Her body was found dumped at a construction site, mere metres away from her home.

Her aunt, Jenah Lebogo said Veronicah said: “she disappeared on September 6… Her body was found on September 15″.

Lebogo explained that Veronicah’s face was burnt, making it difficult to identify her body. Buried at the site, were her clothes and used condoms.

The family only received DNA confirmation that the body was in fact Veronica’s, this week, nearly a month after the little body was found. Her killer and rapist is still at large.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the funeral in Soshanguve, Tshwane today.

Mourners with images of murdered Veronicah Mofokeng on their t-shirts stand in front of her coffin during funeral proceedings in Soshunguve, 18 October 2014. Picture: Refilwe Modise — Mourners with images of murdered Veronicah Mofokeng on their t-shirts stand in front of her coffin during funeral proceedings in Soshunguve, 18 October 2014. Picture: *Refilwe Modise*

“The way she died broke my heart,” he said, adding that Veronicah’s killer had violated her rights as a child. He called on the community to help police find the killer and that they should “speak out”.

Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi was also in attendance. He said in the past 150 days that he has been in office, he has attended six funerals of children in the province. “This is a difficult and painful exercise,” he lamented.

Inconsolable teachers and learners from Nchuncheko Primary School were in attendance at the funeral service.

In recent months a number of child killings have taken place in Gauteng:

– Taegrin Morris (4) – Taegrin died after being dragged for several kilometers during the hijacking of his mother’s car in Reiger Park. His killers are still at large.

– Curburne van Wyk (3) – Curbune’s little body was found burnt and dumped in a mine dump in Reiger Park. He was reported missing a week prior. A man, Katlego Phoku, has been arrested.

– Luke Tibbetts (3) – Luke was shot in the back by a stray bullet. He was sitting on his mother’s lap. The bullet was supposedly meant for his uncle who was also in the car. Luke was in ICU on life support machines for a week. Two men Lindray Khakhu and Keenan Mokwena were arrested.

May 22, 2014

Mamelodi painted yellow as Sundowns celebrates PSL league win

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns drive past children from Nellmapius Primary during their victory parade in Tshwane yesterday. Picture: Refilwe Modise. — WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns drive past children from Nellmapius Primary during their victory parade in Tshwane yesterday. Picture: *Refilwe Modise.*

NOTE: Article first appeared in The Citizen newspaper on May 17, 2014.

More than 1 500 primary and secondary school learners in Nellmapius, Mamelodi, screamed their lungs out as an open double-decker bus filled with Mamelodi Sundowns players made its way through the township.

The victory parade didn’t stop for the excited learners, but this did little to dampen the enthusiasm.

Sundowns – also called the Brazilians for their club colours – won this year’s Absa Premiership league for the first time in the seven years and hosted the parade yesterday to celebrate.

“It’s the first time our kids (Sundowns) bring the cup home. We are proud of them for flying Pretoria’s flag high,” said Peggy Basaya, a cleaner at Nellmapius Secondary School.

The primary school’s pupils were in high spirits before the parade, running to the sides of the street in anticipation, singing and dancing as they waited.

Sundowns gave T-shirts to pupils in the school’s netball and football teams, but the pupils from both schools got an opportunity to watch the parade.

Led by metro police officers on motorbikes, the bus made its way down the street. Players waved and held the trophy over the side of the bus.

Grade three teacher Louise Phakula said she was extremely “happy and proud” to be a Sundowns supporter and could not wait to see Teko Modise. Modise came up as a crowd favourite. Fifteen-year-old Mpho Modiba said: “I wish I could marry him. Did you see how good he looked on that bus?”

With over 50 places on the parade route, the team could not stop to interact with fans, leading to many running after the bus once it had passed them by.

Mosebo Sethoga found this regrettable: “I wish they had stopped. My kids were so excited and wanted to meet them.”

The only stops the parade bus made were at the Tshwane University of Technology and the last stop, Sammy Marks Square, where the championship trophy was handed over to the executive mayor of Tshwane, Kgoosientso Ramokgopa.