Kirkwood – Residents of Paterson, Addo, Bersheba, Uitenhage and Thornhill have threatened to close down the Sundays River Valley Municipality in Addo if a canal which they say is killing their children is not closed within seven days, GroundUp reports.
Since 1984, about 18 people, including 16 children, have died in or near the canal at KwaNomathamsanqa location in Kirkwood.
Nokuzola Nkone lost her 4-year-old son Xolela in 2004. Xolela was crossing the canal when he fell into it and died.
“This is a painful wound that no one can take away from me. What pains me more is that kids are continuing to fall in that canal and there’s nothing I can do to stop that,” said Nkone.
“Every time I hear of a child who fell in that canal, I remember my Xolela. It brings back all the sad memories,” she said.
Nkone said the municipality had not responded to requests to close the canal.
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