By OBAKENG MAJE
22 October 2024- A family of Kutlwano Sehemo (13), who drowned in a water canal in Bonita Park Informal Settlement, near Hartswater, said they were left dejected by how the police divers dealt with the whole situation. The body of Kutlwano was only retrieved after 48 hours in Maphoitsile village, in Taung, more than 15km away after being washed away.
It is alleged that on 17 October 2024, Kutlwano and his friends went to the water canal to cool off during the hot weather. However, it is alleged that a Grade 7 learner from Kgono Primary School in Pampierstad, disappeared under the water.
The North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Cluster, Warrant Officer Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “The body of the deceased was retrieved in a water canal in Maphoitsile village and an inquest docket was opened.”
The deceased’s father, Seun Sehemo said it was disheartening to see the police divers doing nothing to retrieve the body of his son. Sehemo said on the first day, the police divers came, but did not enter the water.
“They just came, looked around and left. The following day, they came and did not stay long. Only on the third day, they managed a thorough search and recovered the lifeless body of my son in Maphoitsile.
“We were sitting at home having sleepless nights, simply because some people who were appointed in positions could not do their work. However, we are grateful that at the end of the day, we will manage to bury our son,” he said.
The Phokwane Local Municipality mayor, Willem Harmse said they will support the family throughout the process. Harmse further said they will also engage with other departments for any assistance.
“We will also ensure that we facilitate different departments, where the family needs assistance,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo visited the bereaved family on Saturday. Seitlholo said they call for collaborative efforts between government and communities in relation to public safety around water resources.
“Drowning incidents are prone around canals and other water bodies during summer season, where temperatures are high. We also visited Vaalharts and met with the Vaalharts WUA, Phokwane Local Municipality, to address safety concerns around the canal.
“I’m concerned by the consistent incidents of drowning in this community. We’ve engaged consistently with the Water User Association (WUA) on what we can do as the department to prevent future incidents of drowning,” he said.
According to Seitlholo, the WUA is currently undergoing a process of capacity building and have identified volunteers that are currently on training on how to behave around water and have taken the programme to schools. He said they hope they will have individuals within a radius that will be able to respond quickly to incidents of drowning.
“Fencing is unfortunately not a sustainable solution to the current state of the canal as far as curbing future incidents of drowning. The department conducted the decommissioning of the fencing when the fence around the canals was stolen.
“I visited the family to send personal condolences on behalf of the Department of Water and Sanitation. As a government, we have a responsibility to show families that we do care and to explain why we cannot fence these canals,” said Seitlholo.
The Guardian 