tame TIMES
winner of the 2012 & 2013 ekurhuleni awards: best print media
Katlehong, Zonkizizwe, Magagula Heights
Becoming the voice of Ekurhuleni
Volume 03, 13 March 2014, Week 11
www.tametimes.co.za
Tel: 011 862 8500 Fax: 011 869 7335
Tragic end to swim in local river Charity Moyo
charity@tametimes.co.za
Thato Tsotetsi from Phake section in Katlehong drowned in the river between Katlehong and Vosloorus.
Thato Tsotetsi (11) was a bright, loving child with a brighter future ahead of him, says his grandmother Kgethang Tsotesti after the boy’s body was found in the river between Katlehong and Vosloorus this weekend. According to Tsotetsi, the boy used to go to Phoko section with his friends to play video games. No one knew that on this particular day they would go to the river too. She said by 20:00, when he didn’t return home, they started looking for him and he was nowhere to be found. “We went to his friends but they claim that they did not see him. We slept without knowing his whereabouts and Sunday morning we went to open a case of a missing child at the police station. We went back to his friends and they were shocked and ended up telling us that they left him at the river where they
were swimming. We went to the river, along with the police and professional divers. My grandson was found dead and we suspect that he drowned while swimming with his friends,” said Tsotetsi. She advised other parents to be watchful of their children and to stop them from swimming in the rivers. “We are going to lose many children if we are not supervising them when they are playing. My grandson is an example to other children on how dangerous is to swim in the river. The municipality must do something because that river is very dangerous,” said Tsotetsi. Captain Mega Ndobe, communications officer of Katlehong Police Station said the boy’s friends were apparently too scared to tell his parents what had really transpired when they first came by to ask about their son. Ndobe said they did however tell the parents the day after the incident.
He said an inquest docket has been opened. He warned the parents to take care of their children and to immediately report a missing child. Roggers Mamaila, Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services’ communications officer said, “We are warning the community to supervise their children whenever they are playing to make sure that they are safe. They should note that any water that is not meant to be a swimming pool is dangerous and if they want to swim they should go to the nearest municipal swimming pool in the area.” Thato Tsotetsi was a grade 6 learner from Matshidiso Primary School in Katlehong. His family is arranging his funeral for Saturday 15 March, but they are struggling to obtain the necessary funds and are appealing for help with his burial. Those who are interested in assisting the family should contact them at 072 507 5681.