Seshego residents appeal to municipality to block off dams, streams and manmade ponds
Their call follows several drowning incidents, the most recent being the death of two boys, aged five and seven, in a small dam in the Bloodriver area, last Friday, 6 November.
POLOKWANE – Residents in Seshego Zone 5 have called on the Polokwane Municipality and law enforcement agencies to close open dams, streams and manmade ponds in areas such as Spokopark, Hillside, Diaring, Mmotong wa Perekisi and Extension 133.
Their call follows several drowning incidents, the most recent being the death of two boys, aged five and seven, in a small dam in the Bloodriver area, last Friday, 6 November.
According to a statement by Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe, the bodies of the boys were retrieved from the pond with the help of the police’s Search and Rescue Team, members of the EMS and the local community.
“The families notified the police after they could not find the boys, who had apparently gone to play somewhere. They were not supervised. An inquest case was opened for further investigation,” he added.
Ngoepe said the circumstances around the incident are the subject of the ongoing police investigations.
A concerned resident, Maria Lekalakala, from Mmotong wa Perekisi said they have approached the municipality on numerous occasions about open ponds in the area but their efforts were fruitless.
“These ponds are created by boys who sell sand and soil to residents. They identify an open periphery and dig the sand for trade, after which, they leave the pond open. When it rains, it fills up with water and children in the community swim in those ponds without any supervision. Some can’t even swim.”
Frank Lehlakanoka, from Spokopark near Bloodriver, said the Municipality should demolish the ponds or rather, issue fines to perpetrators. “We are deeply concerned about the number of open ponds in Spokopark, Hillside and Diaring, which could lead to further, possible drownings. Remember most of the parents are at work, therefore they are unable to supervise their children. The municipality should visit those areas and close the open ponds because they are a danger.”
Read more: Two young boys drown in river near Seshego, one in a critical condition
Lebapo Mokagalo, from Extension 133 in Seshego’s Zone 5 area, said they have already lost three lives as a result of open ponds and dams in the area.
“Three boys died three weeks ago in those ponds. We need the municipality’s urgent response on the matter because it is difficult for some parents to monitor the movement of their children because they hardly spend time with them. The ponds are manmade and the municipality has the full authority to close them.”
Ngoepe could not comment on the issue of closing or fencing off the dams saying that the issue of fencing is for the municipality to address. “We had the reported sporadic incidents of drownings in the recent past across the province which occurred in dams, rivers and flowing streams. Members of the community are encouraged and advised to be careful of the flowing rivers and dams, including when they are crossing from one side to the other. It is always safe to swim under the supervision of a professional swimmer to avoid the ongoing scourge of drownings from occurring.”
Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba appealed to the community, especially parents and guardians, to double their efforts on child safety in and around rivers and dams as we are in the rainy season, to prevent these type of incidents.
BONUS approached Municipal Spokesperson, Thipa Selala, for comment on the matter on 27 October. By the time of going to press, comment was still awaited.
