An East London family is grieving the death of a 15-year-old boy who on Saturday became the second victim to drown in the Buffalo River near Reeston this year.
What was supposed to be a fun outing for friends turned into tragedy when Bathobele Nontsasa disappeared into an estimated 5m deep water leaving friends confused and shocked.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, his aunt Zisanda Nontsasa told of how her nephew had tried to swim back to his friends.
“He was with a group of friends and the report we got was that they were competing about who would reach a candle floating on the water,” she said.
“The place they were in is a very scary place that was used for traditional rituals.
“It is a dark place and we don’t even know how these kids got to that place on their own.
“Bathobele loved to swim and he was very confident. Apparently he challenged the other boys to swim and reach the candle.
“He went first and reached the target. Others failed and came back. He went back for the second time and reached the candle. On his way back he could not swim anymore and disappeared under the water,” said Nontsasa.
A police search and rescue team retrieved the boy’s body.
His clothes were found lying on the ground where he had left them.
His death has caused concern in Reeston as residents recalled how a 23-year-old man drowned there in January.
Bathobele’s distraught grandmother, Nomathemba Nontsasa, said the death of her grandson had left an awful silence and pain in their home.
“He really loved water and he could swim. We had tried to warn him so many times not to go to that place but he went back regardless.
“The other time he came back with a scar on his face after he fell while trying to run away from a snake.
Bathobele’s granny wanted the area closed off to the public.
“I’m worried about other children who might die in that place. It would be better if there was a boundary wall or electric fence to stop them from going into that dangerous place.”
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said the police had opened an inquest docket.
Resident Nomfundiso Mboya said this was the third drowning in the area.
“It’s a really painful to see more of our children dying in that place. Last year we buried another child from Khayelitsha who drowned there,” she said.
Pupils from Chumani Primary School in Reeston are expected to hold a memorial for Bathobele tomorrow. He will be buried next Saturday. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Buffalo River claims boy’s life
What was supposed to be a fun outing for friends turned into tragedy when Bathobele Nontsasa disappeared into an estimated 5m deep water leaving friends confused and shocked.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, his aunt Zisanda Nontsasa told of how her nephew had tried to swim back to his friends.
“He was with a group of friends and the report we got was that they were competing about who would reach a candle floating on the water,” she said.
“The place they were in is a very scary place that was used for traditional rituals.
“It is a dark place and we don’t even know how these kids got to that place on their own.
“Bathobele loved to swim and he was very confident. Apparently he challenged the other boys to swim and reach the candle.
“He went first and reached the target. Others failed and came back. He went back for the second time and reached the candle. On his way back he could not swim anymore and disappeared under the water,” said Nontsasa.
A police search and rescue team retrieved the boy’s body.
His clothes were found lying on the ground where he had left them.
His death has caused concern in Reeston as residents recalled how a 23-year-old man drowned there in January.
Bathobele’s distraught grandmother, Nomathemba Nontsasa, said the death of her grandson had left an awful silence and pain in their home.
“He really loved water and he could swim. We had tried to warn him so many times not to go to that place but he went back regardless.
“The other time he came back with a scar on his face after he fell while trying to run away from a snake.
Bathobele’s granny wanted the area closed off to the public.
“I’m worried about other children who might die in that place. It would be better if there was a boundary wall or electric fence to stop them from going into that dangerous place.”
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said the police had opened an inquest docket.
Resident Nomfundiso Mboya said this was the third drowning in the area.
“It’s a really painful to see more of our children dying in that place. Last year we buried another child from Khayelitsha who drowned there,” she said.
Pupils from Chumani Primary School in Reeston are expected to hold a memorial for Bathobele tomorrow. He will be buried next Saturday. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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