Grade One pupil plunges into 35m well, dies

THE life of Sakhile Thandeka Sibanda, a Grade One pupil at Magwegwe Primary School, was cut short on Wednesday when she plunged into a 35-metre deep community well on her way home.

She was from her mother’s vending stall situated at the local shops in Pelandaba West suburb.

The Sibanda family lives in Pumula South suburb, a walking distance from the Pelandaba West shops where her mother is a vendor.

The girl’s body was retrieved from the well by the Bulawayo Fire Brigade who were called to the scene by a resident moments after the little girl fell into the well.

“The Bulawayo Fire Brigade received a call from a resident who reported that a child had fallen into a communal well in Pelandaba near the business centre known as eMakharathani,” Bulawayo chief fire officer, Mr Mhlangano Moyo, said.

He said the well where the girl fell in is approximately 35 metres deep.

The girl’s father, Mr Mduduzi Sibanda, was at a loss of words and was visibly heartbroken. He described his late daughter as an intelligent learner who excelled at school.

“She was very intelligent. Most of the time when other kids were playing in the streets, she was in the house doing her homework,” he said.

“On the day she fell into the well, she was coming from her mother’s vending stall and had told her she wanted to go back home and do her homework.

“Parents must never bury their children. It still feels like I’m dreaming,” he said between sobs.

Ward 18 Councillor, Felix Takunda Madzana, said there are several wells that were dug by previous land owners and the well that the little Sakhile fell into had been covered by an improvised black plastic lid.

“Pelandaba and part of Pumula South were built on land that belonged to individuals that had plots in the area and most of them were into livestock farming hence the many wells for watering their animals,” said Clr Madzana.

He said because of water shortages, residents are now fetching water from these wells, one of which claimed the life of Sakhile.