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SORELY MISSED: A builder repairs the damaged area where Emmanuel Msezane fell and died when a section of the wall and a gate crushed him in Mzimhlophe, Soweto, on Saturday. Photo: Mamodima Monnakgotla

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The boy does not understand that his twin brother will not come home because he was crushed to death when a wall fell on him while he was playing on top of a gate.

The twins, Kingston and Emmanuel Msezane of Mzimhlophe in Soweto, were playing in the yard with three friends when tragedy struck.

Their grandmother, Lindiwe Tshabalala, said she left the boys playing in the yard and went to a nearby store. While there the twins' aunt came running after her to tell her that Emmanuel had fallen.

"She stopped me right at the entrance of the shop and told me to come quickly, because Emmanuel had falen and was hurt very badly. I rushed back home and found Emmanuel on the ground with his head crushed and split open. We couldn't even recognise him," she said.

Tshabalala also said she was still beside herself with grief and now faced the challenge of living with one half of the pair.

The twins are orphans.

"His brother believes the ambulance took him to hospital. He keeps asking me, 'Gogo, when is Emmanuel coming back from hospital?' I don't know what to say to him," she said.

Their uncle Shoba Msezane said: "Their grandmother left to go to the shop around the corner. Shortly after she left the boys climbed on to the gate to see where their grandmother had gone. That's when the gate fell and the pillar of bricks built next to it followed," Msezane said.

The gate was not locked.

Still shocked, Msezane said the collapse of the gate and wall was unexpected.

"I grew up here. This gate has been here since before I was born. It was strong. We never thought such a thing could happen," he said.

Emmanuel was declared dead on the scene.

The two were Grade 3 pupils at Norwood Primary School in Johannesburg and the head of the foundation phase department, Agnes Mkhonto, said: "We are very hurt by Emmanuel's death. After hearing the news on Monday, we couldn't teach, especially his class teacher. She couldn't look at the space where he used to sit."

Mkhonto also said the twins were special and popular.

"One of the children in his group of friends cried all day and yesterday confessed he already missed his friend," she said.

Emmanuel will be buried at Lenasia Cemetery on Saturday. - monnakgotlam@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Wed Jun 19 16:19:58 SAST 2013 ::

May 17, 2012

Ann

very very sad... this shows that accidents happens anywhere anytime, even where u least expect them to happen, thats y they called accidents..
Rip
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May 17, 2012

golezwa

thats said
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May 17, 2012

Dusc

Take the boy to a doctor or get him professional help children of that age dont understand death is a tempary thing to them thats why is they play they said I shoot you your dead now stand up lets play on I pray he will cope with it shame
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May 17, 2012

Msiphos00

Eishhh
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May 17, 2012

MEforU

very sad indeed, my soul rest in peace....gone too young
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May 17, 2012

Sugaar

People think that baloi ba ko venda fela.
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May 17, 2012

MORNACHIESS

Sugaar
People think that baloi ba ko venda fela.
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Who told you gore ke bolo.i ?

Rest in peace the young one .
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May 17, 2012

TKay

@Sugaar
People think that baloi ba ko venda fela.
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eish wena....accidents do happen
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May 17, 2012

Sugaar

TKay
@Sugaar
People think that baloi ba ko venda fela.
__________________________________
eish wena....accidents do happen
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Ke meleko a wall can't just fall ngwana a hlokofala,,,,,,first suspect mme waka next door,
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May 17, 2012

Thehumbleone

Nkosiyami nc nc nc nc!
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