Every morning, Khaya Dlamini would tell his twins they were special and that he loved them. Every night, he would remind them again.
Today, those words carry a pain no father should have to endure. One of his children is gone, and the other is fighting to recover from the same tragedy that tore their family apart.
A year after losing his son, Aphelele, in a devastating lift-shaft incident in Durban, Dlamini says the wounds remain painfully fresh.
“We have not healed. We still have fresh wounds, and the scars of Aphelele’s loss will remain forever. It is something we have to learn to live with,” he said.
On October 18, 2025, seven-year-old twins Aphelele and Aphile fell down an open lift shaft at the HOMii Lifestyle residential building in Durban’s CBD.
Aphelele died, while Aphile sustained critical injuries. She spent weeks in a coma before regaining consciousness.
The tragedy sparked public outrage and calls for accountability. But for the Dlamini family, the story is deeply personal. It is about a little boy whose life was cut short, a little girl learning to live with the consequences of that day, and a father trying to find the strength to carry on.
“It's the darkest day, but we try to focus on the positive side of life. That's what gives us hope,” Dlamini said.
A little boy who brought light into their lives
Aphelele was more than a son. He was a source of happiness whose presence made their home feel complete.
Dlamini remembers a bright, ambitious child who did well at school and dreamed of becoming an engineer or scientist. His son had a future full of possibilities, and his family had every reason to believe he would achieve great things.
“I miss everything about Aphelele. He was the light of the family. His presence always brought us joy. There was never a dull moment with him around,” he said.
Now, the memories that once brought laughter also remind the family of everything they have lost.
The absence is particularly painful because Aphelele and Aphile were twins. They had shared the experience of growing up together, forming a bond that was part of their everyday lives.
Although Aphelele is no longer physically beside her, that connection has not disappeared.
Dlamini says Aphile still mentions her brother in everything she does. His memory is present in her words, her actions and the moments that remind their father of the little boy they lost.
For a grieving parent, these reminders are both precious and heartbreaking. They offer glimpses of Aphelele while making his absence impossible to ignore.
‘I have to be strong for her’
Losing his only son has changed Dlamini in ways he struggles to put into words.
He is grieving a child he loved deeply while trying to be a source of strength for Aphile. Some days, simply carrying on is a struggle.
“I have changed immensely. I lost my only son. Part of me, deep down, is dead inside, but I have a reason not to give up. I have Aphile, who is my everything. I have to be strong for her,” he said.
Aphile's determination has given the family something to hold on to amid the grief.
He describes his daughter as a fighter. Her rehabilitation is progressing, and her family celebrates every improvement, no matter how small.
Each milestone brings encouragement. It reminds them that, even after such devastating loss, there are still moments worth celebrating.
But recovery comes with challenges that extend beyond the physical and emotional toll.
The financial struggle behind Aphile’s recovery
Dlamini says the family’s limited financial resources have made it difficult to afford all of Aphile’s medical expenses.
He believes she could have made greater progress if he had been able to pay for everything she needed. Not being able to provide all the support he wants for his daughter has been particularly painful.
The family is therefore navigating two difficult realities. They are trying to come to terms with Aphelele’s death while working to give Aphile the best possible chance of recovery.
Through it all, Dlamini draws strength from his daughter.
“Aphile gives me strength. Her being alive and fighting to get better, I believe, is a message from God. There is a reason to live and stay positive,” he said.
The family marked the first anniversary of the tragedy on October 18 with prayer.
It was a moment to remember Aphelele, reflect on how far Aphile has come and find the courage to face the road ahead.
A father’s love that remains
For Dlamini, time has not erased the pain. Nor has it made the loss easier to explain.
He is still learning to live in a world where one of his children is missing. He is still supporting a daughter whose journey to recovery continues. And he is still holding on to the memories of the twins who once filled his life with joy.
If he could have one more conversation with Aphelele, his message would be simple.
“If I could speak to Aphelele today, I would tell him he is special and that I love him. These are the very same words I used to tell them every morning when they woke up and every night before they went to sleep,” he said.
They were ordinary words in the family's daily routine. Now, they have become a lasting expression of a love that death could not take away.
Aphelele's dreams will never be fulfilled in the way his father once imagined. But his memory lives on in the family he left behind, in the sister who still speaks of him and in a father who continues to find reasons to carry on.
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