Durban girl wakes from coma after twin brother dies in HOMii lift shaft fall
Aphile Dlamini, an eight-year-old girl who fell four floors down a lift shaft at a HOMii building in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, has regained consciousness after a month in a coma.
She fell on October 18, along with her twin brother, Aphelele, who died at the scene and was tragically discovered by their father, Khaya Dlamini.
This week, Dlamini thanked all those who had supported the family through the difficult time. “I have good news. Aphile has regained consciousness and is officially out of the coma,” he shared on social media on Saturday.
The father, who has been fighting to get accountability from HOMii about what caused the incident, is still grieving his son, while being thankful that his daughter is alive.
“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.
He went on to say he is 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 incident ignited a firestorm with hundreds of protestors taking to the streets to demonstrate at the HOMii building located at Dr Pixley kaSeme Street, demanding that the property company take accountability.
Protesters urge HOMii tenants to vacate.
Video: Xolile Mtembu pic.twitter.com/o55CFbkZww— IOL News (@IOL) October 27, 2025
The KwaZulu-Natal South African Police Service have not yet determined what happened at the building and said it is still probing the matter.
“The matter is still under investigation,” said police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
IOL News