Grisly find clouds Blade’s visit to crossing

ON THE morning of Transport Minister Blade Nzimande’s visit to Blackheath’s notorious Buttskop level crossing, which he described as a place of slaughter, another dead body was discovered just metres from the railway tracks.

Yesterday Nzimande spoke to community members and inspected the busy level crossing, where he was briefed by officials from the Railway Safety Regulator and Metrorail.

The briefing follows the collision between a train and a bakkie last Friday in which seven men who were on their way to work were killed.

Just metres away from where reporters were told that a bridge over the crossing was the only solution, the body of Heinrich Caroulus, 36, was discovered.

According to family members on the scene, Caroulus was stabbed to death after walking home from a local pub in the early hours of Thursday morning. It was his birthday.

His uncle, Andrew le Roux, said Caroulus had left the house in the evening and gone to the pub. “He came back from the pub and wanted his wallet. I gave him his wallet and he left again.

“As he left, I heard him talk to someone. In the morning I asked my son where he (Heinrich) was, and my son told me he was not in the house.

“I have to cross the railway crossing on my way to work. I saw the police here. I heard that there was someone killed and immediately thought of (Heinrich). And then I came to look at the body and it was him,” he said.

Le Roux said Caroulus had been visiting family in Blackheath and lived in Lavender Hill.

Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk said circumstances surrounding the stabbing at about 6.10am were under investigation: “A 36-year-old man was fatally injured and this matter is now under investigation.”

He said anyone with information on the incident should call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Nzimande said the crossing was dangerous for motorists, commuters and pedestrians. “We can blame this incident on human error, but our people cannot die like this. This is a very busy and dangerous crossing.

“This road is also very congested and that should be addressed.

“I spoke to one of the community leaders and they told me the only way to address this matter is to build a bridge.

“We need to look at the engineering of the roads and see where improvements can be made,” he said.

PICTURE: TRACEY ADAMS/AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY/ANA CROSSING OF DEATH: Blade Nzimande at the Buttskop level crossing, where seven workers lost their lives last week. During Nzimande’s visit, a dead body was found metres away.