Deceased MSC crew member’s family want answers

A LUSIKISIKI, Eastern Cape, family, whose daughter died while on board the MSC Orchestra have bemoaned the slow pace of the investigation into her death. And while the investigating officers have been changed, the ship has already sailed.

Hombisa “Nana” Mafuduka, 30, who worked on the cruise ship, was found with a broken neck her aunt, Lulama Mafuduka, said. She died on the voyage to Durban from Mozambique.

The post-mortem results seen by the Sunday Tribune, dated March 27, indicated that Mafuduka’s death was “unnatural”.

The pathologist certificate revealed that the cause of death was due to “a blunt force injury”, leaving the family with questions as to what happened.

Mafuduka said they had written to the police commissioner to have the investigating officers changed, due to the slow pace of the investigation. She said two new officers were appointed to take over the case last Friday.

Mafuduka said they received the post-mortem results on Monday, citing Nana’s death as unnatural.

“The delays have cost us, as the Orchestra ship returned to Europe on Monday and will only come back in November.”

Mafuduka claimed that the staff members who were on duty the night her niece died, were allegedly dismissed.

A source close to the case, said there were no CCTV cameras in the area where the incident had happened. He mentioned that even though the investigation was in the early stages, there were developments on the case.

The informer said the next step was to go to the crime scene and do a reconstruction of the investigation when the cruise ship returned.

One of the staff members who was allegedly dismissed before his contract ended, told the Sunday Tribune that he does not understand why they were told to go.

“We were told that since we were on duty at the time of the incident, we should go back home. We were informed that this was to protect us and the investigation process.”

He said that he was dismissed on April 1, and was told that he would get back his belongings when he was off the ship.

“I have sent emails to the human resources manager inquiring about my belongings, but I haven’t received a response.”

Explaining what had transpired on the night that Mafuduka died, he said she had gone to the laundry room to get two blue towels after 9pm, adding that this was where he and his colleague were assigned to work.

“We told her that it was (sic) not allowed to issue out clean towels after hours but gave her the two towels and she left. What got our attention was the alarm of the watertight door which went off indicating that it was not closed. When I got there she was on the floor, with blood all over the floor,” he said.

In a statement from the management at MSC Cruises South Africa, the company said it was not in a position to provide information about the investigation as this can only come from the police.

“We have co-operated with the police throughout in following their instructions and in supporting their ongoing investigation in every possible way and with full transparency. We will continue to co-operate with the police as the investigation progresses.

“From the outset of this tragedy, we have also, in good faith, given Hombisa Mafaduka’s family the information that was available to us at the time that it was communicated, and that was available to share without interfering or jeopardising the ongoing investigation and efforts by the police.”

MSC Cruises denied the allegation that they had dismissed the staff members who were on duty on that particular night.