A three-year-old boy died tragically along the Metrorail tracks in Mbekweni on Friday morning after concrete from the railway line collapsed.
A fellow community member witnessed the aftermath of the accident in Drommedaris Street and informed the Paarl Post of the events that transpired following the playtime the boy enjoyed with his ball one last time.
“His ball trailed away from him and ended up in a hole underneath a slab of concrete that supported the railway tracks. The hole was there as a result of people digging sand with buckets from underneath the tracks,” the Mbekwenian said.
He said that ambulance services responded to the scene around 10:10 on Friday, followed by police. He was declared dead by officials.
Sgt Nceba Vanqa, spokesperson for Mbekweni Police, was also present at the scene. “I can confirm that the boy’s body was found trapped underneath the railway tracks on Friday morning. This was as a result of the tendency locals have by digging sand from the railway tracks with buckets. He was last seen playing in the vicinity.”
No culprits have been identified at this time.
*In related news, the Drakenstein Farm Watch (DFW) reported an accident involving a 17-year-old man from Mbekweni who was treated for serious injuries due to after he was crushed with a concrete slab in Paarl on Friday.
The DFW’s Facebook post read: “Apparently, the young man had dropped money which landed in a storm drain. Others who assisted to lift the concrete slab to retrieve the money, unfortunately dropped the slab on the youngster’s body.”
He was taken to hospital for further treatment. More updates will be provided in the next edition of the Paarl Post.
