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Four children have drowned at a quarry in the Gxulu Administrative area in Libode in just one week.
The ward councillor for the area, Zameka Mrawushe, is now appealing to the Department of Public works and the Nyandeni Locality Municipality to assist in fencing off the quarry that was left opened at the beginning of 2021.
According to Mrawushe, the area was fenced, however, the hole was not closed and is now very shallow and dangerous to children and livestock.
"The community members allegedly stole the fence, leaving it open. Now it is easy for everyone to enter, including livestock. Three boys drowned in this quarry last week and it was not the first incident," said Mrawushe.
She added that the fourth boy drowned on Saturday and his body was retrieved on Sunday, January 22.
“Three of them were saved but the fourth one, 13-year-old Odwa Ndamase drowned on Saturday did not make it. When the divers came to look for his body, they told us that this dam is very deep,” said Mrawushe.
Police spokesperson, Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said that the deceased was on his way to watch soccer when he allegedly decided to swim at the Gxulu locality quarry dam.
"He took off his clothes and entered, he started two swim and struggled in the middle of the dam and he drowned."
“Mthatha K9 divers were summoned and the search started at about 16:05 until 18:00, however, the search was in vain. The Gqeberha and East London search and rescue team resumed search on Sunday and the body was retrieved in the deep dam,” said Kinana.
He confirmed that an inquest docket had been opened at the Libode SAPS.
