Durban Father Finds Hope as Daughter Awakes From Coma After Fatal Lift Shaft Fall
A Durban father who has spent the past month sitting beside his injured daughter’s hospital bed has shared a glimmer of hope after she finally regained consciousness — weeks after falling four floors down a lift shaft at a HOMii building in the city centre.
Eight-year-old Aphile Dlamini awoke from a coma on Saturday, according to her father, Khaya Dlamini, who announced the news on social media. The child had been critically injured in the incident on 18 October, the same fall that claimed the life of her twin brother, Aphelele.
The twins plunged four floors down an open lift shaft inside the HOMii building on Dr Pixley kaSeme Street in Durban. Their father was the one who discovered them after the fall — a moment he has said continues to haunt him as he battles to find answers from the property company about what went wrong.
This week, Dlamini publicly thanked the many people who have offered support to the family since the tragic incident. “I have good news. Aphile has regained consciousness and is officially out of the coma,” he wrote, describing the day as a milestone he had long prayed for.
While the father expressed relief that his daughter is alive, he is still grieving deeply for his son, who died at the scene. The family has been torn by the loss of the seven-year-old, whose short life Dlamini said he now looks back on with gratitude and reverence.
“I no longer cry, but I thank God for the blessing he has given me to be a father to Aphelele. His name means ‘we have everything, it is accomplished’. The Bible says that God created the world for six days and then took a break on the seventh day and called it a blessed day,” he said.
Reflecting on Aphelele’s life, Dlamini added that he believes his son fulfilled the purpose that was meant for him. “I am grateful that Aphelele lived to be seven years old. And then God took him. I cannot oppose the plans of the Almighty. I am also grateful for the blessing that Aphelele is alive, God is showing his power in him.”
The family is now trying to balance the relief of Aphile’s recovery with the pain of losing her twin brother. Dlamini has been vocal in calling for accountability from HOMii, the company that manages the building where the fall occurred. According to him, the tragic incident should never have happened, and he has urged the company to explain how two children were able to access an unsafe lift shaft.
The fall triggered widespread outrage in Durban, with hundreds of people taking to the streets soon after the incident. Demonstrators gathered outside the HOMii building, demanding answers and accountability. Many held placards calling for better safety standards and questioning how a residential building could allow such a fatal safety lapse.
The protests brought traffic to a standstill in parts of the city centre as residents and activists marched towards the building’s entrance. Some called for an independent investigation, while others criticised HOMii for what they described as poor communication with the family and the public following the incident.
Residents living in the surrounding area also joined the demonstrations, saying they were fearful for the safety of children in buildings with similar setups. Concerns were raised about lift maintenance, security lapses, and building management practices in urban residential blocks across the city.
HOMii has been under growing pressure to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident, although the company has not yet provided a detailed public account of what exactly led to the exposed lift shaft being accessible. The Dlamini family, supported by community members and activists, has indicated that they will continue pushing for accountability.
For now, the father’s immediate focus is on supporting his daughter through her recovery. While Aphile is out of the coma, doctors are continuing to assess the extent of her injuries, and it is unclear how long her rehabilitation will take. Her father has remained by her side throughout, despite the emotional toll of simultaneously mourning his son.
The family has received messages of support from across the country, including from parents who said they could not imagine facing such tragedy. Community members have also organised prayer gatherings and offered assistance to the Dlaminis as they navigate the difficult weeks ahead.
As investigations continue and public pressure mounts on the property company, Dlamini said he is taking each day as it comes. For him, the return of his daughter’s consciousness marks a turning point in a painful journey — one shaped by grief, anger, and the determination to ensure that his son’s death is not forgotten.
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