In a remarkable act of bravery, 13-year-old Letlohonolo Choma saved the life of a four-year-old boy who fell into a derelict pool at the Sunset Drive informal settlement on Wednesday, 23 January.
The pool is next to the two-bedroom house in which five people live. The house was one of the existing structures on the property on Sunset Drive when the informal settlers were relocated from Plot 55 in Muldersdrift in December.
Residents have to pass the swimming pool on their way to fetch water.
Read more about their woes here:
According to an eyewitness, Ntombi Faku, the four-year-old and his twin brother were playing around the pool on the property at 3.30pm. He fell into the mucky water and could not get out. While his twin brother ran to get help, their seven-year-old brother tried to help him.
Neighbours also called for someone to help and Letlohonolo, still dressed in his school uniform, jumped in and rescued the boy.
“We thank God he didn’t die,” said Ntombi.
She immediately notified the Red Ants in charge of looking after the property every day. They took Letlohonolo and the four-year-old to a local clinic but were told to rather take the children to Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital. At the hospital the young boy was allegedly given paracetamol and sent home while Letlohonolo was given some antibiotics.
The twins’ mother was very emotional and their father, who was arrested two weeks ago for jaywalking on the highway, could not be there to comfort his family.
Ntombi said because of the lack of transport at the Sunset settlement, most people have taken to hiking or crossing the highway on foot to get to transport and go to work.
This incident is the fourth of its kind since the residents were relocated to the settlement.
Another tragic incident occurred in December when a seven-year-old died at the settlement after falling into a piece of steel that nicked an artery, causing him to bleed out.
Mogale City Local Municipality responded to that incident, saying they had engaged with the bereaved family and confirmed that the child had died while playing with other children in one of the half-built structures.
The risk of another child falling into the pool is very great as there are no safety measures to keep the children out.
Councillor Molefi reportedly visited the site to see what could be done about the unsafe pool; but for now conditions at the Sunset Drive settlement are not getting any better or safer.
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