Mystery surrounds drowning tragedy

Amid the chaos and fear of a drowning incident, two Despatch families never got the chance to thank the man who risked his own life to save their children.

Sadly, as the dramatic events unfolded at the weekend, the ultimate tragedy struck for another family, which is mourning the loss of a five-year-old boy.

Saturday’s devastating turn of events has left the residents of Khayamnandi in Kingstown in a state of shock.

Details around what actually happened, and how the children landed up in the waterlogged trench, remain unclear.

Neighbours had rushed to the scene when they heard the children’s screams and cries for help at about 4pm.

However, while his friends were rescued, little Likuwe Appolis did not make it out alive.

The identity of the man who saved the lives of the two boys — and tried to save Likuwe’s — is still unknown.

Residents said on Monday they recognised the unsung hero from the area but they did not know his name.

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said an inquest docket had been opened for investigation.

The mother of one of the children who was saved

said she was glad her five-year-old son was alive but felt the entire incident could have been avoided.

“I was indoors when it happened, I just heard screaming and came running out,” the woman, who did not want to be named, said.

“I saw a man save two of the boys but we don’t know who he is.

“Nobody seems to know who he is.

“We are very grateful to him for what he did and we wish we could find him to say thank you.” 

Another resident, Wandisile Sifuba, had performed CPR on Likuwe after his body was finally pulled from the water.

“At first, when he coughed up water, I thought there was hope,” Sifuba said.

“I thought he was going to be OK.

“But the more I pushed on his chest, the more it became apparent that he was no longer alive.

“It is very sad to see a small child like that lose his life because of this unfortunate situation.”

Likuwe’s distraught mother, Andiswa Appolis, said she had been aware of the trench in the area for some time but had never imagined her child would lose his life because of it.

“This place [trench] has been a problem for [some time],” she said.

“It has always been a mystery to me why the municipality or the ward councillor have not done anything to close it up.

“I am angry and hurt — and I need something to be done to prevent something like this from happening again.”

She described her son as an active child who was loved by everyone he had interacted with.

“He was a bright child. He enjoyed being outside and playing with his friends.

“He was very obedient and it was always a pleasure being around him.

“He was a happy child but that is all over now.” 

Likuwe’s father, Masixole Mzati, said he had been at work when his son drowned.

He had only received the devastating news when he returned home later that day.

“It breaks my heart that I was not there to save my child,” Mzati said.

“Hearing about his final moments makes me so sad.

“What hurts even more is knowing that he drowned and that it did not have to happen that way.” 

According to some of the residents, the trench had allegedly been dug up as part of a stalled stormwater drainage project.

However, they said it had been left open and unattended for several months.

On Monday, there was no visible signage to indicate it was a construction site.

The ground around the trench was muddy, made worse by the heavy rainfall of the day, and the surface was slippery.

Ward councillor Luyanda Lawu said he had visited the site on Sunday afternoon after news about the tragedy broke.

He said he had addressed the residents and assured them that something would be done to enclose the site to prevent such an incident from happening again.

Lawu said he was initially unaware of the trench and that members of the community had not brought it to his attention before the events of Saturday.

“I am aware of the incident. However, nothing was brought to my attention prior to this,” Lawu said.

“I have made some calls to the mayor and she has promised to make sure that the situation is handled.

“On Tuesday, I will be there along with the construction company to close off that area because we do not want to lose any more children.

“I have also spoken to the parents of the deceased boy and I have offered them my sincere condolences.

“I have also promised to assist them with any funeral arrangements should they need it.”

Later on Monday, two municipal workers arrived at the scene with an excavator to begin clearing out the water.

The area was also taped off.

Questions were sent to municipal spokespeople Sithembiso Soyaya and Mthubanzi Mniki but no response was received by the time of publication.

The Herald