The family of Mind Trymorechre (12), the boy who drowned in a river near Zwelethemba on Tuesday 26 November, is outraged at the municipality for not taking the necessary precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the children in the community.
Mind was swimming with his friends in the river when the depth of the river had been underestimated by the teens and caused him to drown.
“He was a very energetic young boy that loved to play outdoors. He always made us laugh and we are going to miss him very much. He had huge respect for his elders and set a good example for his siblings,” said his mother, Chathire Kangara.
Mind was the first born child in his family alongside his two other siblings. His mother describes him as being very responsible, always doing chores around the house or taking care of his siblings when they got back home from school.
“He played a big role in our family from a very young age and we are saddend by the loss of our child. Mind loved to play soccer with his friends,” she added.
On Tuesday 26 November, temperatures in the area reached a scorching 31 degrees. The community of Zwelethemba, who does not have access to a nearby public swimming pool, relies on nearby rivers and dams to cool off in the heat, however, the river is unsafe for children and the depth makes it dangerous for anyone to make use of the river for swimming.
“There is no warnings sign or fencing that can act as a barrier for children not to swim there. The municipality has to do something about securing the river before we lose another child in the community.”
With the recent visit of the public protector, Busisiwe Mkwebane, the issue was raised by the community about the need of a swimming pool. The municipality responded by saying that the swimming pool has been tabled in the budget for the next financial year.
Standard has sent an inquiry to the municipality for comment on how the necessary safety precautions will be taken this summer to secure the river. The municipality has yet to respond to the inquiry.
