Teenager drowns at Boskop dam

On Wednesday (20 January), a boy from Ventersdorp, Siswe Mokunke (16), drowned in the Boskop dam when he, his brother, and two friends went swimming. Around 16:30, the boys got into the dam at the pump station opposite Tanglewood Nature Estate.

A cement walkway/bridge links the dam wall to the pump station in the water. According to Siswe’s friend, Angelo Phefo (20), the boys entered through a gate onto the bridge. They then jumped off the bridge and into the dam.

Angelo, who was swimming with the other boys, says Siswe’s feet got stuck under the water and he couldn’t move. The boys tried to pull him out and when they couldn’t free Siswe, they went home for help. According to Angelo, Siswe’s head was still above the water when they left.

However, when they returned with the police, Siswe was no longer standing in the water and had disappeared. One of the policemen got into the water but couldn’t find Siswe. They called police divers from Mahikeng and Hartebeespoort who found the body early the next morning.

Siswe and his siblings are originally from Tsing in Ventersdorp. They were visiting their aunt in Boskop. His funeral will be held at Ventersdorp on Saturday.

Shorty Valipathwa, the councillor of Ward 28, says he was very upset when he heard of the drowning. He was also at the scene when the police arrived on Wednesday and the following day. He is currently supporting the family in their loss.

Angelo told the Herald that his fourteen-year-old brother and a friend had also drowned in 2017. He and a friend went swimming in the Boskop dam not far from the pump station.

According to the spokesperson of the police in North West, Col Adéle Myburgh, an inquest has been opened. The police are investigating the alleged drowning.