The mother of a five-year-old boy who died after he slipped and fell into a sewerage dam has vowed to seek legal action against those responsible.
Nokulunga Njemla also wants to see the dams closed off to the public to prevent a similar fate happening to other children.
Her son, Alive Njemla, drowned after he slipped and fell into one of four dams near the King Sabata Dalindyebo Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college just outside Mthatha.
The dams are not fenced.
When the Daily Dispatch visited the site yesterday, the 30-year-old mother of two broke down in tears. Freshly dug holes for fence poles were seen but no workers were on site.
“Whoever is responsible for my son’s death must pay up. His death is due to negligence of those who operate these dams,” said Njemla.
“I still can’t believe that my son has died. It feels like I’ve sent him to the shop and he is still going to come in through the door or he is on holiday somewhere,” she said.
She said Alive’s father had taken the news badly.
“He is worse than me,” she said.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said an inquest docket had been opened and an investigation was underway.
“No arrests have been made,” said Fatyela.
Njemla said the dams must be closed off to avoid other children falling into them.
She said she was not interested in “excuses” about the lack of fencing.
Alive, who was buried last week, was a pupil at Sinokhanyo Pre-school in Dosi Village. He was described as a “very bright” pupil who loved people.
The five dams are located close to some nearby houses.
“His friends said he slipped while they were walking. They were not swimming at all.
“He was already dead by the time villagers came to try and rescue him,” said Njemla.
Alive’s tiny body was eventually retrieved by the SAPS K9 unit several hours later.
OR Tambo District Municipality spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa said the dams were the responsibility of the public works department.
Public works spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.
Boy, 5, drowns in sewerage dam
Nokulunga Njemla also wants to see the dams closed off to the public to prevent a similar fate happening to other children.
Her son, Alive Njemla, drowned after he slipped and fell into one of four dams near the King Sabata Dalindyebo Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college just outside Mthatha.
The dams are not fenced.
When the Daily Dispatch visited the site yesterday, the 30-year-old mother of two broke down in tears. Freshly dug holes for fence poles were seen but no workers were on site.
“Whoever is responsible for my son’s death must pay up. His death is due to negligence of those who operate these dams,” said Njemla.
“I still can’t believe that my son has died. It feels like I’ve sent him to the shop and he is still going to come in through the door or he is on holiday somewhere,” she said.
She said Alive’s father had taken the news badly.
“He is worse than me,” she said.
Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said an inquest docket had been opened and an investigation was underway.
“No arrests have been made,” said Fatyela.
Njemla said the dams must be closed off to avoid other children falling into them.
She said she was not interested in “excuses” about the lack of fencing.
Alive, who was buried last week, was a pupil at Sinokhanyo Pre-school in Dosi Village. He was described as a “very bright” pupil who loved people.
The five dams are located close to some nearby houses.
“His friends said he slipped while they were walking. They were not swimming at all.
“He was already dead by the time villagers came to try and rescue him,” said Njemla.
Alive’s tiny body was eventually retrieved by the SAPS K9 unit several hours later.
OR Tambo District Municipality spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa said the dams were the responsibility of the public works department.
Public works spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile could not be reached for comment at the time of writing.
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