On July 18, Reiger Park police received a call about a child who had drowned.
They rushed to the scene where they found the unresponsive boy lying on the ground next to a dam, after he had been taken out of the water by residents.
According to the information gathered, it is alleged five boys, aged between five and six, were swimming in the dam before one of them drowned.
Police registered an inquest docket.
The deceased was identified as five-year-old Nangamso Manyangaza, from the nearby Joe Slovo informal settlement.
Acting Reiger Park SAPS station commander Lt Col Eugene Roets said he was devastated by the death, and equally concerned about the lack of care by some parents.
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Ward 34 councillor Charlie Crawford said he was deeply saddened by the tragedy when he received the news, and was planning to meet with the affected family to see how he can help them get financial support to bury their loved one.
According to Crawford, residents have after the tragedy raised their concerns about the lack of fencing around the area because children frequently go swimming in the dam.
“The dam belongs to the mine; perhaps they should consider cordoning it off. However, we have never had drowning problems for the many years since it was dug,” said Crawford.
To keep your child water-safe, Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Services offers the following advice:
- Always know where your child is and what they are doing.
- Keep them away from rivers, lakes and all other open water sources.
- Fence swimming pools and keep the gates locked.
- A coversheet should be in place when the pool is not in use.
- While swimming in the pool, children should be under adult supervision.
- Ritual and religious practices in and around rivers and lakes by adults still pose a danger of drowning. Life jackets are necessary for those entering the water.
- Cross a river using an appropriate route, such as vehicle and pedestrian bridges, not water and sewerage pipes constructed over the rivers.
- Emergency numbers: National toll-free number: 10177, Ekurhuleni life-threatening emergency line: 011 458 0911 or 112 from a cellphone.
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