GEORGE NEWS - Another innocent young life was lost yesterday, 25 January, when a young boy drowned in a dam about five minutes’ walk from Rosedale while swimming with friends.
The incident happened “while these young children were probably just being kids”, said Kerneels Kaptol, a community leader in Rosedale. Kaptol said he is usually the one that goes to chase away kids playing there, but he cannot always be there.
He said this dam was previously used for drinking water for animals. “But it is been standing there, without a proper wire fence for more than two years. We want someone to be held responsible, and for the municipality to drain the water or fill it up with sand.”
Southern Cape police spokesperson Capt Malcolm Pojie said the call of the drowning came through around 15:20 yesterday.
He said the boy, from Zone 9 in Thembalethu, was identified by his mother before his body was taken away by pathology services. Pojie reminded the community that by law, it is still illegal to swim, and dams are included.
He asked parents to be vigilant and know where their children are.
George Mayor Leon van Wyk has extended condolences to the loved ones of the boy who has died.
The municipality is looking into the matter and will issue a statement when more information is available.
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