News / Local
Man throws self from NSSA building's sixth floor, dies instantly
24 Jan 2012 at 13:59hrs | Views
BUSINESS came to a halt yesterday at about 3pm when a man died after throwing himself to the ground from 6th floor of the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) offices Bulawayo at Compensation Building at the corner of Main Street and Leopold Takawira Avenue. The man, believed to be a prison officer in his 30s, died instantly after sustaining injuries on the head.
He fell to the ground of the courtyard about five metres from a security guard who was on duty. When reporters visited the scene at about 3.30pm, police officers were attending to the scene and were yet to collect the body. NSSA officials who were at the reception were instructing visitors and workers to use the steps to go upstairs, as the man's body was lying adjacent to the elevator on the ground floor.
Some NSSA workers gathered at the courtyard to catch a glimpse of the man's body bleeding from the head due to the injuries. When police officers searched the man's clothes, they found a rope in his pocket, his National Identity Card and business card. Workers who spoke to reporters said they did not know the man and suspected that he entered the building with the intention of committing suicide.
"No one knows him, we only saw him entering the elevator from the ground floor as if he was going to see someone upstairs. A few minutes later we heard a loud noise at the courtyard. When we rushed to see what had happened we found out that the man was dead," said one of the workers.
"I think he came here with the intention of killing himself because he had a rope in his pocket. He probably changed his mind and decided to throw himself to the ground from the 6th floor."
Some workers who work from the 5th floor said they saw a shadow moving downwards like an eagle before they heard a loud noise on the ground. The visibly shaken security guard who saw the man falling to the ground refused to talk to reporters, saying he was not allowed to talk to the Press. In a telephone interview from Harare, NSSA public relations officer Mr Phillemon Chereni confirmed the incident, but could not give more details.
"I can confirm that someone was found dead at the NSSA building this afternoon, but police are still investigating the case. Once the police have gathered the necessary information, I will be able to inform you accordingly," said Mr Chereni.
He fell to the ground of the courtyard about five metres from a security guard who was on duty. When reporters visited the scene at about 3.30pm, police officers were attending to the scene and were yet to collect the body. NSSA officials who were at the reception were instructing visitors and workers to use the steps to go upstairs, as the man's body was lying adjacent to the elevator on the ground floor.
Some NSSA workers gathered at the courtyard to catch a glimpse of the man's body bleeding from the head due to the injuries. When police officers searched the man's clothes, they found a rope in his pocket, his National Identity Card and business card. Workers who spoke to reporters said they did not know the man and suspected that he entered the building with the intention of committing suicide.
"No one knows him, we only saw him entering the elevator from the ground floor as if he was going to see someone upstairs. A few minutes later we heard a loud noise at the courtyard. When we rushed to see what had happened we found out that the man was dead," said one of the workers.
"I think he came here with the intention of killing himself because he had a rope in his pocket. He probably changed his mind and decided to throw himself to the ground from the 6th floor."
Some workers who work from the 5th floor said they saw a shadow moving downwards like an eagle before they heard a loud noise on the ground. The visibly shaken security guard who saw the man falling to the ground refused to talk to reporters, saying he was not allowed to talk to the Press. In a telephone interview from Harare, NSSA public relations officer Mr Phillemon Chereni confirmed the incident, but could not give more details.
"I can confirm that someone was found dead at the NSSA building this afternoon, but police are still investigating the case. Once the police have gathered the necessary information, I will be able to inform you accordingly," said Mr Chereni.
Source - NewsDay
