adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
AN eight year-old boy has died after slipping into a dam while trying to drink water.
Thabani Solomon, who was a Grade Three pupil at Kwite Primary School in Mangwe district, was in the company of his nine-year-old friend when the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon.
His grandfather, Colin Solomon said the whole family was devastated by the boy’s death which was witnessed by a horrified pal.
“This is a very sad development because we were not expecting Thabani to leave us so soon. I received a phone call just after the incident occurred informing me about the accident.
“It appears that Thabani branched off the road to drink some water at Kwite Dam leaving his friend a few metres behind. He proceeded to a slope where he leaned forward to drink some water but he slipped and fell into the water,” said Solomon.
“When Thabani’s friend realised this, he followed his friend to the dam and he saw him struggling to get out of the water until he finally drowned. That is when he rushed back home to inform elders and Thabani’s body was pulled out of the water.”
Solomon said Thabani and his friend had been assigned to collect some plants from a community garden and the incident occurred when they were on their way back.
Headman Zibuyeni said several children have previously drowned in the same dam as it is not secured.
“We have had several incidents of young children who have drowned in that dam. It has steep slopes and unfortunately children just wander close to the dam because it is not properly secured.
“It is important to have a perimeter fence around it because the one which is around the dam has been tampered with,” he said.
In another incident an 18-year-old teenager from Tshitshi area in Mangwe recently collapsed and died while playing football.
Chief Tshitshi said Sabelo Ndlovu died at Tshitshi Clinic before being attended to.
“Sabelo was playing soccer during a community tournament match and he started complaining of chest pains and he was having difficulties in breathing. He requested to be excused and thereafter he fell to the ground.
“He was quickly taken to Tshitshi Clinic which is a few metres away but he died before he was attended to,” he said.
Online Reporter