Call for fencing off dams and rivers following another drowning incident
NTWANE – Members of the community in Moutse have reiterated their call for authorities to fence off dams and rivers in the area following an incident of drowning on Saturday, 24 October 2020.
The residents complained that another life was lost due to drowning in the area’s Ntwane Village despite their previous calls for government to fence of the dams and rivers and beef up water rescue teams there.
Fannie Mogotji, a community leader, said they have been requesting for dams and rivers in the area to be fenced off to prevent children from trying to swim there and in the processes drowning. Adults also drown as they try fishing at the rivers and dams or when they attempt to rescue their livestock stuck in mud.
Mogotji said what saddened the residents was that the only diving team servicing the entire Limpopo Province was located in Mokopane and it only comprised about six divers. He said that showed how inconsiderate and careless government was about a rather sensitive issue.
“On several occasions we engaged relevant authorities to establish a rescue team in Sekhukhune district to avoid having to wait for divers from Mokopane whenever we have a crisis but our plea fell on deaf ears. One of the officials unashamedly, said they see no point in establishing such a unit as they will be paying people for nothing as such incidents happen only once or twice in a year, so it will be a waste of money and resources,” said Mogotji.
Mogotji said they humbly requested Limpopo government to see to it that the matter was addressed properly and the rescue team was beefed up.
Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, confirmed that police in Dennilton outside Groblersdal were investigating a case of drowning after a man in his fourties drowned on Saturday, 24 October 2020.
Ngoepe said the circumstances around the incident were subject to the ongoing police investigations. The body of the deceased was recovered by SAPS divers with the assistance from Emergency Medical Services and the SAPS K9 unit.
He added that a case of inquest was opened and the police investigations including postmortem examinations were underway. The deceased was identified as Victor Matseke of Marapong section, Ntwane Village in Moutse outside Groblersdal.
