Building collapse's double amputee reveals plans for a new career

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Although he can't remember all of it, being back at the 75 Victoria Street disaster site brought back a flood of painful memories for Shadrack Maine.

He spoke to George Herald at the first anniversary of what has been described as South Africa's worst construction disaster - when a five-storey apartment building under construction collapsed, resulting in the death of 34 people.

While the Lesotho national and father of six-year-old Mosala was one of the lucky ones to see daylight after only one night of entombment, life as a double amputee would be dramatically different. Especially as he would no longer be able to rely on his physical ability to work.

Maine's left arm had to be amputated on the scene in order to free the rest of his body from the rubble. His left leg would later also be taken, leaving him temporarily confined to a wheelchair. With the help of Rotary Club George, Maine would later receive prosthetic limbs and slowly relearn to walk.

All Maine remembers about the five seconds it took for the building to tumble is feeling like he was in a lift going down. After that, he said, it was dark. The next thing he remembers is being rescued the following morning.

Since then, he said, life has been very difficult. "I was a breadwinner supporting my mother, child and younger brother. Now I rely on help from family members and volunteers, It is difficult, because the donations don't always come," he said.

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Despite being in the dark about when and how much workmen's compensation he will be paid out, Maine plans to use the money to go back to school and upskill himself.

He intends on enrolling for a computer course so that he can switch to an admin career - something he believes he could easily manage with prosthetic limbs.

Shadrack Maine and Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean MacPherson at the building collapse anniversary. Photo: Supplied/DPWI