Two unemployed people from Slovo Park in Mthatha are being described as heroes in their community for their selfless acts when searching for the bodies of those who had drowned in the nearby rivers.
Zama Nkosiyethu (36) and Tandeka Komeni (33), managed to assist the Madolo family whose son, Ayabonga Madolo (11), drowned in the Mthatha River recently, while he was swimming with his friends.
Komeni confirmed that the police were called to the scene, but had not found the body.
“Community members tried to call me, but it was in vain due to (problems with the cellphone) network.
“My friend, Zama Nkosiyethu, went to the river and tried his luck but while he was still searching, he became afraid and came out. The father of the child, Phelo Madolo, came to ask me to assist them.
“I was also afraid, but I told them that I cannot do it alone. I could not do it without Zama because he is my hope [of assisting me] when we are inside the river since we are not trained at all. We are risking our lives,” said Komeni.
She confirmed that after they both agreed to try again, they found the body of the deceased. According to her, it was not the first time they had assisted the community.
She said that they started years back and have since become the go-to people when people need help retrieving bodies.
“Now that it is summer time we will be called now and again. It is not easy to go to the water because we are also human beings and the river is unpredictable. We are not even trained to do this, and we do not have equipment.”
The friends, who are unemployed, would be grateful if they could receive proper training to assist the community even more.
“We just need someone who might give us training so that we might know more about water safety,” said Nkosiyethu.
Phelo Madolo said that they were so grateful for what these two did for them because they did not know how they would get their child’s body.
“Even if he is not alive it is better now because we found his body. We are not sure about the funeral date at the moment as we are busy with the arrangements,” said Madolo.
Spokesperson for the King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality, Sonwabo Mampoza, said they really appreciate such good action to save the lives of the people and searching for those who have drowned.
“In terms of getting assistance, they must contact their ward councillor who will come up with assistance,” said Mampoza.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Kaya Matola-Mvanyashe, said an inquest docket had been opened and registered by the Mthatha police after a boy (11) from Slovo was recovered by local community members floating 20 metres away from where he drowned. “Police were summoned and attended (the scene). On their arrival, the deceased was under a tree, covered with a blanket,” said Matola-Mvanyashe.
