A tragic incident occurred in Newcastle, north-west of Durban, on Friday, when 5-year-old Kiara Mohan was crushed by a municipal skip bin at the Suryaville municipal flats in Jasmine Crescent.
The child was playing outside the flats when the bin allegedly toppled over during a game of hide-and-seek. According to her mother, Lisa Mohan, Kiara had been playing with other children while she watched from nearby before briefly stepping inside to attend to her infant child.
Newcastle Municipality Accused of Negligence
Family members and residents have accused the Newcastle Municipality of negligence, alleging the skip bin had long been in a hazardous condition, including a broken wheel. The South African Government has laws and regulations in place to ensure public safety, but it appears these were not followed in this case.
Veronica Nair, a family member, said they had not received communication from the municipality and insisted the matter should not be politicised. The Newcastle District Residents Forum also claimed residents had repeatedly raised concerns about the bin’s condition over several years and that it had toppled previously, causing injuries.
Circumstances Surrounding the Child’s Death
A post-mortem is expected to determine the exact cause of death. Mediclinic Newcastle confirmed the child could not be saved. Newcastle SAPS has opened an inquest docket and is investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
Here are some key facts about the incident:
- The child was 5 years old and playing outside the flats when the incident occurred.
- The skip bin had a broken wheel and had been in a hazardous condition for some time.
- Residents had raised concerns about the bin’s condition, but no action was taken.
- The Newcastle Municipality has not received formal complaints about the bin, according to Ward 3 DA councillor Connie Hariram.
The incident has sparked outrage and concern among residents, with many calling for greater accountability and action to prevent such tragedies in the future.
