DUNCANVILLE – A security guard stationed at the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) Duncanville depot finds himself in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) following a freak incident.
The man known to Sedibeng Ster, employed by Wenzile Phaphama Security Company was airlifted to Alberton Netcare Hospital on Tuesday, August 8, after a streetlight at the entrance of the depot hit him.
According to sources close to the incident, an employee of ELM was busy with her driving lessons together with a traffic officer on the said day.
The inspected driver who drove a waste truck that plunged the victim was entering the municipality premises when she hit a street light which landed on the guards head.
Colleagues rushed to the injured man’s aid, promptly initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as they awaited the arrival of emergency medical personnel.
The valiant efforts of the security guard’s colleagues played a pivotal role in stabilizing his condition before he was airlifted for further specialized medical attention.
Another source at the depot detailed the incident and share his reaction to the incident.
“We screamed to our colleague when the incident happened, but he couldn’t hear us. We watched as the pole knocked him down. We tried to resuscitate him until the medic arrived. His injury was very bad, he even lost a lot of blood.”
“We are left traumatized and haven’t been given counseling. We share our heartfelt sympathy with his family and wish him a speedy recovery,” he said.
Emfuleni Local Municipality spokesperson, Makhosonke Sangweni said the municipality is aware of the incident.
“All drivers were tested for authorization at the public road, point of departure being from Waste depot to the road and back to the depot. The municipality is aware of the incident because it was investigated by our Internal Investigation team who even reported to our control room,” he said,
Sangweni argued that the vehicles have updated license discs despite Ster having seen the disc belonging to the compact that bumped the guard.
Wenzile Phaphama Security Company CEO, Thulani Skosana said their project manager assisted in the process of the employee being admitted to the ICU.
“We have provided transportation for the family to visit their son at hospital. The supervisors and fellow officers have also been provided with transportation for the hospital visits on different days. We are currently initiating a counselling process of through our Human Resources division to reach out to the family and everyone,” he said.
“We received updates from the medical practitioners at Alberton Netcare Hospital on the 17th of August 2023 that he is conscious, breathing well, he can move his head and his legs,” he said.
