His friend, Benson Maruo was not as lucky, as he was found dead inside one of the diesel tanks at the Central Service Station on Commissioner Street.
“My friend had only been in South Africa for two weeks before that day,” says Nomalusa as he recalls the events of the fateful day.
“We had been offered R80 each to clean and unclog the petrol tanks but I still haven’t been paid.”
Nomalusa says that he and Benson woke up on the day thinking that they at least had a job for the day that would bring in a bit of money, but never imagined it would end the way it did.
According to him, a man he refers to as Malume, was told that there was a cleaning job available for two men and asked Nomalusa if he was interested.
“I was interested in the peace-job and I also told my friend, Benson,” explains Nomalusa.
“When we got to the garage, we asked the woman what the job was and she told us that we would have to sweep the water out of the tanks.
“The woman said we would need to wear masks inside the tank, and she brought us the cotton masks that we then wore.”
Nomalusa recalls the woman telling them that if it got too hot in the tank that they should come up for a bit.
“Benson went down the ladder that was inside the tank first. I followed him within a few minutes.
“As I climbed down, I was overwhelmed by the heat and the smell inside the tanks,” he says.
“I looked down and noticed that Benson was just standing still with his hands on the ladder.”
Nomalusa says he called out Benson’s name and when he got no response he realised that something was wrong.
“I grabbed his arm and tried pulling him up but he was so heavy and the longer I was in the tank the weaker I got.”
“The last thing I remember about being in the tank was Benson and I falling to the ground after I tried pulling him up,” says Nomalusa in anguish.
He points out the burn scars on his neck and marks on his face and says he got all of them from being inside the tank.
“It was hot…hot…hot inside and even when we went to go see Benson in the Germiston mortuary, you can also see that he was burnt too,” says Nomalusa.
Benson’s cousin, who refers to himself as his brother, Edward Kathumba, says that the deceased has a wife who will now be without a husband and child without a father. The family stays in Malawi.
“Now his body needs to be taken to Malawi and they say to transport it will cost R11 000,” he says.
A case of culpable homicide has been opened.
The body of the deceased is being held at the Germiston mortuary until arrangements for transportation and the funeral can be made.
