Brothers and cousin die in flooded illegal mine pit
"We expected them to come back within an hour or two. Nobody swims in the abandoned holes. Zama zamas come with their machines to dig up chrome in the mountainous area and sell it to potential buyers."
MECKLENBURG – Unsecured holes created by zama zamas to access non-operational mines resulted in the death of three boys at Phashaskraal.
The Ramabala siblings, Nchaba (8) and Itumeleng (9) and their cousin, Pabalelo Mokgethwa (7) allegedly drowned. It is assumed they swam in the hole, but their family suspects foul play.
The boys left home at about 10:00 on Sunday to take the cattle to a nearby grazing field. This was the last time they were seen alive.
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Speaking to Steelburger/Lydenburg News their distressed aunt, Thalia Phasha said after she realised that the children had not returned that afternoon, she embarked on a search.
“At about 13:00 I was concerned, as the children were not yet back. I climbed the mountain which is about a kilometre from our home. I called their names without any response.”
According to Phasha she arrived at the hole.
“We found their clothes close to the hole. One will have to walk around the hole to access the entry point because it is deep. We don’t believe they jumped in the water by themselves and hope the police will investigate the matter thoroughly,” Phasha said.
The aunt alerted neighbours, friends and family members. “We continued shouting their names, but there was no response. The whole community proceeded with the search as we awaited the police.”
The aunt added, “The boys knew very well that we did not want them to go out for a long time. They were supposed to accompany the cattle and come back. We did not even allow them to swim.
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“During the search, we thought they were hiding as they knew we did not want them to go to the abandoned sites.”
Police spokesman, Capt Maphaswa Seabi said, “The parents became suspicious when the children did not return and were nowhere to be found. They searched in the area and proceeded to the illegal mine hole which was filled with water due to recent rains.
“On arrival, they were met by the sight of their children’s clothes next to the dam and started anticipating that the worst might have happened,” Seabi said.
“The three bodies were retrieved at about 23:30 Sunday evening by the provincial search and rescue team and the K9 unit. The Mecklenburg SAPS are currently investigating a case.”
The three bodies were taken to the Lebowakgomo Hospital’s pathologist services.
One of the relatives, Lesole Lesufi said it was strange that the children might have decided to swim in the hole.
“We expected them to come back within an hour or two. Nobody swims in the abandoned holes. Zama zamas come with their machines to dig up chrome in the mountainous area and sell it to potential buyers.”
When Steelburger/Lydenburg News visited the area, the holes in the abandoned mines were not barricaded.
Limpopo’s provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Nneke Ledwaba, said he is concerned about the loss of these young lives and has urged parents to look after their children and strongly cautioned them against swimming in water-filled holes.
The general warned communities to “desist from engaging in illegal mining by digging up holes and leaving them open, as this poses a hazardous environment to people, especially children”.
The two siblings were grade four pupils at Ramoko Primary School. Pabalelo was a grade two pupil at Mmalegaswi Primary School.
