An investigation is underway after a 15-year-old drowned in a ditch in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, which was left open allegedly by a contractor who was fixing a road in the area.
Sinethemba Magadla from KwaHlomendlini village went for a swim in the ditch with is friends on Friday but did not make it out alive. The group of boys had been herding cattle when they decided to go for a swim.
The incident has angered the community which felt he hole should have been closed or barricaded.
The quarry was allegedly left by a company allegedly contracted by the Eastern Cape department of roads and transport to rehabilitate the road between Matatiele and Maluti.
Provincial transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said they will engage with Klus Civils Engineers to also conduct their own investigations into the incident.
“Incidents like this are often a combination of unfortunate factors coming together. This is perhaps no time to point any fingers at no one. We should give the family privacy to mourn as they prepare to lay their child to rest,” Bingose said.
Speaking on behalf of Sinethemba’s family, Samkelo Madlanga said the whole village was devastated.
“On Friday, he was his usual jolly self and he left home at 9am. An hour later, we were told that he had drowned. It was very painful to see his lifeless body outside the quarry. His dreams had been cut short. He always spoke of how he wanted to become a pilot and buy his father a big house. We are hurting and we blame the construction company for negligence,” Madlanga said.
David Jakwe, the contract manager, said the area in which the incident occurred was 3km away from the community and there is a security fence erected.
“This was a tragic incident and at this stage not a single person or entity is to blame. As a way forward, we will do community awareness and also help the family with the burial,” Jakwe said.
The village chief, Thanduxolo Magadla, expressed shock, and disputed Jakwe's claim there was a fence around the ditch.
“We spoke to the company several times to barricade the area but that fell on deaf ears," Magadla said.
