{"id":46413,"date":"2024-11-25T15:03:52","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T13:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/teenager-14-drowns-in-sewage-filled-meloding-quarry-20241125\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T15:26:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T13:26:43","slug":"teenager-14-drowns-in-sewage-filled-meloding-quarry-20241125","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/teenager-14-drowns-in-sewage-filled-meloding-quarry-20241125\/","title":{"rendered":"Teenager (14) drowns in sewage-filled Meloding quarry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The drowning of a 14-year-old boy in a quarry of water filled with sewage in Meloding, Virginia, has left the community shocked to its core.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Sunday, 24 November, members of the Meloding SAPS were informed of a boy who was in trouble at the quarry, which is situated in an open space near the Meloding Graveyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The friends of the child told the police that a group of boys had been swimming in the quarry when one of them drowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SAPS Diving Unit was summoned to the scene, but it was a health risk because of the sewage in the quarry, says Lt. Col. Stephen Thakeng of Lejweleputswa SAPS communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Matjhabeng Municipality employees were deployed to drain the sewage. The body of the deceased was found stuck in the mud of the quarry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thakeng says the body was retrieved at 17:30 and brought beside the quarry, where the boy was certified dead by emergency medical services personnel. A case of inquest was registered for further investigation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The deceased was identified as Pule Lithebe by his father, Lefu Semenyane, residing at Zone 13 Meloding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cChildren are sternly warned to, during these school holidays, not swim in quarries full of water or sewage, as it\u2019s a health risk and they could drown. Parents must know the whereabouts of their children,\u201d says Thakeng.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tshediso Tlale, official spokesperson for the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, declined to comment at the time of this article being published.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The drowning of a 14-year-old boy in a quarry of water filled with sewage in Meloding, Virginia, has left the community shocked to its 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