TWO Mdantsane boys drowned in the Buffalo River yesterday when they went for a swim.
Qhamani Mabula, 10, and his friend Kwakhanya Sofe, 9, from NU7, died after getting into trouble in the river near their homes.
The two were with their friend Liyema Zisile, 9, at the time.
Liyema had decided not to swim as he was scared of the water.
“They called out my name as a sign to indicate they were still safe and I also called out their names.
“But when I called to them again, they both did not respond.
“I came to look for them and their clothes were still on the ground.
“When I looked at the water I saw bubbles and some movement and that’s when I went to look for help.”
Residents and parents said the incident was reported to them around 11am and they called police immediately but help only arrived two hours later.
When the Daily Dispatch arrived at 1pm police were not on the scene and the boys’ clothes and underwear were still lying on the ground where they had been left.
Kwakhanya’s devastated mother, Nokuthula Sofe, said she just wanted to see her son’s body removed from the water.
“We don’t know what happened to them or how this happened – all I want is help to get our children out of this river,” she said.
East London police divers and members of the K-9 search and rescue unit arrived at 2.15pm.
Resident Nosiseko Mqongwana said: “We have been here all morning, we called the police as soon as we heard this but they only got here hours later.
“Some officers asked us silly questions like why did we let our children go to this river.
“Children are children – we can’t control what they do.”
The bodies were eventually found by by Warrant Officer Timothy Stockton assisted by Warrant Officer Steve Leslie.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku confirmed the boys’ bodies were discovered soon after the officers arrived.
He said police had been on the scene earlier, but the search and rescue and diving units were delayed by inaccurate directions to the scene.
Qhamani’s mourning mother, Thandeka Mabula, said she was devastated at the loss of her first-born child.
“I could not even go down to the river to witness this.
“When I got the news I was too weak to see him in that state.
“He was such a small child – still in Grade 5,” she wept.
Two Mdantsane children drown in Buffalo River
Qhamani Mabula, 10, and his friend Kwakhanya Sofe, 9, from NU7, died after getting into trouble in the river near their homes.
The two were with their friend Liyema Zisile, 9, at the time.
Liyema had decided not to swim as he was scared of the water.
“They called out my name as a sign to indicate they were still safe and I also called out their names.
“But when I called to them again, they both did not respond.
“I came to look for them and their clothes were still on the ground.
“When I looked at the water I saw bubbles and some movement and that’s when I went to look for help.”
Residents and parents said the incident was reported to them around 11am and they called police immediately but help only arrived two hours later.
When the Daily Dispatch arrived at 1pm police were not on the scene and the boys’ clothes and underwear were still lying on the ground where they had been left.
Kwakhanya’s devastated mother, Nokuthula Sofe, said she just wanted to see her son’s body removed from the water.
“We don’t know what happened to them or how this happened – all I want is help to get our children out of this river,” she said.
East London police divers and members of the K-9 search and rescue unit arrived at 2.15pm.
Resident Nosiseko Mqongwana said: “We have been here all morning, we called the police as soon as we heard this but they only got here hours later.
“Some officers asked us silly questions like why did we let our children go to this river.
“Children are children – we can’t control what they do.”
The bodies were eventually found by by Warrant Officer Timothy Stockton assisted by Warrant Officer Steve Leslie.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku confirmed the boys’ bodies were discovered soon after the officers arrived.
He said police had been on the scene earlier, but the search and rescue and diving units were delayed by inaccurate directions to the scene.
Qhamani’s mourning mother, Thandeka Mabula, said she was devastated at the loss of her first-born child.
“I could not even go down to the river to witness this.
“When I got the news I was too weak to see him in that state.
“He was such a small child – still in Grade 5,” she wept.
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