Mine shaft drama: Search for boy (5) to resume this morning
The search for the 5-year boy Richard Mohlala, who fell down a disused mine shaft in Jerusalem informal settlement, is expected to resume at around 9am, today.
The mission was abandoned last night at around 7.30pm after attempts to rescue the child proved unsuccessful.
The often volatile community members, who had taken to streets over the weekend to protest against the metro’s slow service to close up the mine shaft, had vowed officials won’t be allowed to leave the site until the child has been found.
But after they witnessed the efforts of the officials to retrieve the child, they agreed the search will resume the next day.
The distraught parents of the child, Nombeko Thole and Mishack Mohlala, said they just hope the child will be found.
The mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mzwandile Masina had earlier addressed the angry residents who had blockaded roads.
He promised the metro will do all in its power to help retrieve the child.
Residents said they had resorted to the violent protest because they felt they were being disrespected by government officials.
“We are angry because the Emergency Metro Services came here on Saturday – they just looked at the shaft and said they won’t be going down because it is unstable and dangerous,” said one of the residents.
The residents added that they were also angry because government sent police “to shoot at us when we demanded they help recover the child”.
On Sunday night, the resident ran a riot Main Street Witfield, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
Traffic lights were uprooted and municipal bins turned upside down.
ALSO VIEW: WATCH: Community protests furiously after child falls down mine shaft
WATCH: A disused mine shaft where a 5-year-old Boksburg child
AUDIO: Interview with devastated parents of child (5) who fell down mine shaft
