JOHANNESBURG – A community is still reeling from the deaths of four young boys who drowned in a Pretoria dam on Saturday.

It is believed the boys from Mamelodi east had scaled a fence to go swimming in a dam near the Baviaanspoort Prison. 

The bodies of the boys, aged between 9 and 11, were recovered on Sunday morning.

The families of Nkosinathi Maselela, Nthapeleng Laka, Remember Msoma-Mesane and Mpho Mamabolo began frantically looking for them on Saturday morning. 

Maselela’s relative, Martha Mahlangu, said it was not long before they heard the children had gone to the dam.

Mahlangu said police and several relatives found the children’s clothes scattered on the banks of the dam.

Divers searched for around an hour on Sunday before the bodies were found.

Mamelodi police said an inquest docket has been opened.