POLOKWANE – The family of Matose Mailula, the eight-year-old boy who drowned at Fun Waters earlier this month, is devastated.
Matose’s father, Rufus Matsena told BONUS the family was attending a birthday party on 2 November, when they realised at around 16:00 that the boy had not been seen in a while.
He said they alerted the security officers in their quest to find Matose.
“After not being able to find him, we asked to see closed circuit television footage (CCTV), but our request was denied. Then, we decided to phone the police.”
After no police officers arrived, the family drove to the Mankweng Police Station themselves. Police officers who came to the venue, didn’t get out of the police van or inspect the premises, according to Matsena: “They told me the officers who works with missing persons’ reports would only be available on the Monday”.
The family kept searching the premises, but in vain.
That Sunday, they were informed at 14:00 of the boy’s death.
The owner of Fun Water, Oupa Phala, told BONUS that the establishment’s CCTV footage function is outsourced and that was the reason the footage could not be made available for viewing on the day. It has become available for viewing now, he added.
Phala said there are three swimming pools, of which one is a baby pool, and two life guards. In addition, they have several security guards.
“Once we were alerted, our crew immediately scouted the premises. We alerted the police who opened a missing person’s case,” he said.
It was only the next morning, when the pools were cleaned, that the body was found at the bottom of one of the pools.
“At that point, the mother was here, but we felt it was a sensitive matter that should be handled by the police,” Phala told BONUS.
He said they wanted to offer their condolences to the family but were unable to do so as the family denied them contact following the incident: “We would have loved to lend a helping hand”.
In the meantime, Matsena said the family was not visited by the community leaders in their hour of need.
“I do not want to seem petty, but a little help would have gone a long way.”
Const Mahume Thobejane confirmed that a missing person’s case was opened, and changed to an inquest.
Phala told BONUS that, in the wake of the incident, the establishment plans to offer swimming lessons once their Olympic-size pool is complete.
“The boy’s drowning was a traumatic experience. We want to offer proper swimming facilities, and lessons too. By early next year, these facilities will be fully operational and we will engage with schools.”
