Plea to use bridges when crossing rivers
The call comes in the wake of two people who drowned while crossing the Inyalazi River last month
MTUBATUBA Mayor Velangenkosi Gumede has urged residents to use bridges when crossing rivers, especially the dangerous Inyalazi River.
Gumede’s call comes in the wake of two people, Asanda Nene (16) and Zamani Dlodlo (27), who drowned while crossing the Inyalazi River last month.
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‘Eight people have lost their lives in that river in recent times. Inyalazi is not wide, but it is very deep and people underestimate the dangers.
‘We have urged community leaders and councillors to encourage the public to use alternative routes instead of swimming through the river to get across,’ Gumede said.
Nene and Dlodlo had gone to look for honey on a farm with a friend, Siphamandla Ndabandaba (16).
They used the bridge to cross the river, but on their way back, Ndabandaba said he was in a hurry and was going to swim across. Nene and Dlodlo followed when he entered the water.
‘I urged them to rather cross at the bridge because I suspected they were not good swimmers. When I looked back some moments later I saw both in the water, struggling to stay afloat,’ said Ndabandaba.
He swam back to try and help his friends, but saving two people in panic was simply impossible.
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