NTANDO Tsotetsi (10) asked his aunt for R2 to go and swim at a nearby swimming pool at the multipurpose centre
But the 10-year-old ended up drowning in a trench on Saturday afternoon, 4 November 2023.
Dad risks his life to save Ntando
Ntando and his five friends wanted to cool off from the heat. So, they went to a deep unbarricaded trench that was being refurbished at the Chris Hani Stadium in Orange Farm, south of Joburg.
According to Ntando's dad Sibusiso Sibeko (43) from Orange Farm extension six, he tried his best to save his son. He said he went into the trench, hoping he would find him alive or resuscitate him if was unconscious. Sadly, all his efforts didn't save his son's life as he couldn't find him.
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Ntando's body found
"My son was taken out of the trench after three hours as the construction TLB driver refused to try and make a stream to reduce the water in the trench, saying he is afraid to damage installed pipes," he alleged.
His mum, Butsisang Tsotetsi (35) said the wound in her heart after losing her last born child wouldn't heal.
She blamed the people who dug up the dangerous trench for allegedly not barricading it.
Phumzile Sibeko (50), Ntando's aunt said when he asked for R2 to go and swim, she had no idea the swimming pool was no longer working.
"We didn't know he would go to the dangerous trench that was left open with no barricade," she said.
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Ward 3 Councillor Zakaria Mokari said security had been chasing away kids, who had been playing at the trench, since Friday, 2 November.
"On Saturday, they come back again and unfortunately, Ntando was trapped by mud while swimming," he said.
He said community members were the ones who stole barricades from construction sites.
"Now a child has lost his life while swimming in a trench that is not meant for swimming," said Mokari, who added that he had consulted with the construction company to barricade the trench again so that no other life was lost.
Police investigate
Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said that a 10-year-old boy child was found drowned in a trench at a construction site at Chis Hani Stadium in extension 6a in Orange Farm on Saturday afternoon.
"It's alleged that the 10-year-old boy was with his friends, and they were busy swimming in the trench when this ordeal occurred," he said.
"The boy did not manage to get outside the water. As a result, he drowned and succumbed due to the drowning. An inquest case docket is registered for further investigation," said Masondo.
