Grade 8 St John’s College learner, Asonele Mlindazwe (13), from Bhongweni locality in Mthatha, drowned in a quarry allegedly left open by a construction company at Mbuqe Extension, recently. He was buried at his home at Mathwebu locality in Bizana last weekend.
According to his father, Luvuyo Mlindazwe, his son drowned on the day following day his final exam.
He said the police divers found the body at midnight.
He added that there are three quarries in their area that were left open and now they are dangerous for children.
“No-one wants to hear what we are saying, because these quarries are supposed to be closed so that we do not lose more lives.
“The King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality must help us to solve this problem, or else we will lose more children.”
President of Batho Pele Movement (BPM), Veliswa Mvenya, said that municipalities have a responsibility to ensure their people are protected all the time.
She said that they should make sure trenches are closed after the construction companies are done using them.
“We have lost a lot of children due to this negligence, because these trenches and quarries are dangerous for them. There are no people monitoring these open quarries. The municipality must play a role in burying that child,” said Mvenya.
Police spokesperson, Captain Welile Matyolo, confirmed that Anele Mlindazwe (13) was swimming with friends when they realised that he was drowning and they called the elders.
“A police diver from Port St Johns arrived and recovered the lifeless body of the boy,” said Matyolo.
Spokesperson for King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality, Sonwabo Mampoza, said that this is an old quarry and they did not know who was using it.
“Now that the municipality is aware of these dams, we are going to close them to avoid further incidents,” said Mampoza.
