Ncamisile Zungu, 55, and her 3-year-old grandson, Seluleko, lost their lives when a retaining wall collapsed on their shack in Zwelisha, in the north of Durban, during heavy rains on Saturday.
Zungu's son, 24-year-old Bonga, told News24 on Monday that the death of his mother and nephew had left him feeling "devastated, heartbroken and lost".
"Perhaps, I would be feeling better if they were ill and I had started preparing myself mentally for their possible departure," the semi-professional footballer said as tears ran down his face.