A grandmother is struggling to cope following her grandchild’s death after he drowned while trying to cross the river.
According to Stella Dlamini (46), gogo Nomsa Khawula (62) even struggled to see Sbonelo’s body.
The 15-year-old drowned while swimming with three friends in the Marapo-a-thutlwa River in Ruigtesloot Village, North West.
Stella, who is Sbonelo’s aunt, said Nomsa last saw Sbonelo on Monday, 3 March, when he was going to Thulare High School in Lebotlwane, where he was a grade 9 pupil.
She said it rained on Monday, making it difficult for Sbonelo to cross the river, so he slept at his friend’s place.
“The school bus didn’t fetch them on Tuesday, 4 March, because of the bad roads. Sbonelo was going home with friends when he decided to cross the river, and he drowned.
“The kids were swimming. Accidentally, he jumped into the deep end. His friends tried to rescue him, but unfortunately, he drowned. Community members retrieved his body from the river,” she said.
Stella said the village was shocked by his death.
“It’s painful to lose a young boy like him. He was a good boy.”
Tsoga-o-itirele Community Authority tribal clerk Isaac Pitseng said: “We’re heartbroken by the death of this young boy. We don’t have good roads. If kids didn’t go to school on that day, this tragedy wouldn’t have happened.”
Ward 1 Councillor Andrew Zimba said they were shocked by the tragedy.
“This is painful. The family couldn’t see the body after we retrieved it from the river because of bad and muddy roads,” he said.
Moretele Municipality spokesman Mothupi Malebye said Thulare High School and Ruigtesloot bridges have also collapsed, severely affecting the smooth running of schools and shops and other operations.
North West police spokeswoman Colonel Adéle Myburgh said: “Bedwang police are investigating an inquest after the body of a boy was recovered in the Ruigtesloot River. The body was recovered by members of the community.”
