Fears crocodiles attacked boy
2009-12-24 19:36
Johannesburg - An eight-year-old boy is feared to have drowned while swimming in a river in Nqoleni in Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Thursday.
Nkonzo Nzuza and a friend took a swim in a river after being sent to fetch water by the former's mother on Wednesday, Captain Tienkie Van Vuuren said in a statement.
"[His friend] decided to go home after a while and called for Nkonzo to follow him, but Nkonzo wanted to swim longer."
Nkonzo's mother, Nokuthula Zulu, asked his friend where her son was and organised a search of the river.
"A search was conducted at the river but Nkonzo could not be found. His clothes were still lying on the river bank... Community members searched the river banks until dark and again this morning to no avail."
Nkonzo is feared to have either drowned or been attacked by a crocodile, many of which have recently been seen in the area.
While police have also searched the area they have not sent in divers due to the threat posed by the crocodiles.
- SAPA