Durban - The family of the taxi driver killed in the M1 bridge collapse in Joburg on October 14 has been hit hard by his death.
Siyabonga Myeni, 27, saved his passengers by braking before the debris from the crumbling structure could reach them.
But he has left behind five children including two toddlers, a pending marriage, a mother who relied on his income, and a father who is gravely ill in hospital.
His father, Bhekufakazi, was admitted to Benedictine Hospital in KwaNongoma in northern Zululand on the day the hero died. His mother, Thokozile Myeni, 62, said he supported her and he was due to get married after paying lobola.
Sitting on a grass mat in a stone rondavel with her two grandsons, Aphiwe, 4, and Aphelele, 3, playing nearby, Myeni said: “I am still in shock. His death was the worst thing to happen in my life, aggravated by his father (her husband) going into hospital. Telling my husband won’t make a difference because of his mental illness.”
The family did not know a preliminary report on the disaster had been released by the Department of Labour or that an investigation had been undertaken.
The report suggests that the scaffolding that collapsed on the M1 two weeks ago was put up before the design for the pedestrian bridge had been completed. Officials said a formal inquiry would take up to six months to complete.
Siyabonga’s brother Bheko-kwakhe said the report “is meaningless to us since it will not bring him back to his family. We urge the company to look after his five children.
“Siya saw the bridge falling and slammed on brakes, but too late for him to survive. His efforts to avoid the tumbling steel rods were heroic and prevented more deaths,” Bhekokwakhe said people at the scene had told him.
He said they had lived in a hostel in Jeppe while his brother had been employed as a taxi driver by Dingisano Mbatha, operating on a route between Alexandra and Sandton in Gauteng.
Mbatha said on Friday he met officials from construction company Murray & Roberts to discuss compensation after his taxi was written off.
“They promised a certain amount, but we could not agree terms because I needed to consult my colleagues for advice.” He said he had gone to Myeni’s funeral to pay his respects.
KwaZulu-Natal businessman Adrian Doodnath, of Mount Edgecombe, had also died in the incident and was buried two weeks ago. Myeni was laid to rest last week.
The National Union of Mineworkers health and safety chairman, Peter Bailey, said it was upsetting that the preliminary inquiry had taken two weeks. “We could see there were violations. We are aware of the view that Murray & Roberts should compensate the families of the deceased and pay medical expenses of the survivors.
Sunday Tribune
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