UPDATE: Residents in shock after toddler tragedy
Residents are seething and in shock after an 18 month toddler fell into a borehole pit and died at Jopi village in Nwamitwa outside Tzaneen on Saturday, November 3.
It took the emergency services personnel, police search and rescue team, construction workers and members of the community about two days to retrieve and bring the body of Mighty Baloyi to the surface.
According to residents, the child was playing with other kids in the yard when he fell into the borehole that was left uncovered in the yard of a local headman.
Read: Major rescue operation near Tzaneen for toddler in pit
The Mopani District Municipality which is the water service authority has launched an investigation to establish circumstances around an uncovered borehole pit which caused the death of the toddler. Police spokesperson, Constable Maphure Manamela said police have opened an inquest docket for investigations.
Manamela urged parents to look after their children, especially the young ones as they constantly need supervision. Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance has urged MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), Jerry Ndou to probe circumstances behind the death of the toddler. The DA members led by a Member of Parliament, Desiree Van Der Walt visited the toddler’s family on Monday.
“The DA is certain that there are plenty of these uncovered borehole pits, not only in Mopani municipality but also across the country. These open boreholes are hazardous and fatal as this tragic incident now illustrated,” said Van Der Walt.
She said the DA will engage with the family further about any kind of assistance that they might need to arrange a proper send-off for this toddler.
“The DA will submit written questions to the MEC Ndou to get clarity around all open and unused boreholes provincially and what measures are in place to keep the community and animals safe from these pits,” she said.
