Two drown in Matabeleland South

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
AN eight-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man drowned while swimming in separate incidents in Matabeleland South Province.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incidents which occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday in Filabusi and Esigodini.

He said the eight year old boy Thabo Khumalo of Bolo B Village in Filabusi was swimming in a pool along Sungwenya River in the company of his 14-year-old uncle when he drowned at around 2PM.

“I can confirm that we recorded two cases of drowning in the province this week. The first incident occurred in Bolo B Village in Filabusi on Tuesday. Eight year old Thabo Khumalo was herding cattle in the company of his uncle Khethani Khumalo aged 14 years old.

“They decided to go for a swim in a pool along Sungwenya River. After sometime Khethani came out of the pool and realised that his nephew had drowned. He rushed to inform villagers. A report was made to the police who attended the scene and retrieved the body from the water,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele added: “The second incident occurred on Wednesday in Mtshete 2 Village in Esigodini area at around 1PM. 19-year-old Nkosikhona Banda and his friend Shepherd Nyathi who is aged 18 went to bath in Umzingwane Dam. After bathing they decided to swim and during the process Nyathi realised that his friend was drowning. He tried to pull him out but he failed,” he said.

Chief Insp Ndebele said Nyathi rushed to inform villagers and the sub aqua team was called to retrieve the body.

He appealed to members of the public to desist from entering water bodies as they were endangering their lives.

Chief Insp Ndebele also urged guardians to ensure that they closely monitored minors when they were near water points.

“We continue to lose lives in drowning cases. We appeal with people to stay away from water bodies at all costs. They shouldn’t be tempted to bath in dams or cross flooded rivers as they will be endangering their lives. Minors should also be closely monitored when near water bodies,” he said.

Speaking recently during a crime awareness campaign at Amazon Business Centre in Filabusi, Chief Insp Ndebele said 15 cases of drowning had been recorded in the province during the festive season. — @DubeMatutu.