Provincial drownings number 20 so far
The drowning of two siblings, Nomswenko Malope (18) and Loveness Malope (15) at Mabulala Dam on June 12, has brought the total of drownings in Mpumalanga this year to 20.
Police spokesperson, Brig Leonard Hlathi, said one of the girls slipped and fell into the dam and when the other one tried to rescue her, she fell in too.
This happened when they went to check on their friends who were washing clothes at the dam.
“Their friends then tried to pull them out of the dam, but all their efforts were unsuccessful. Our diving unit was called in to help, however, upon arrival, the girls had already died. An inquest was opened and is being investigated by police,” added Hlathi.
Enos Sibashe, a family member of the deceased girls, said they were still trying to come to terms with what happened.
“We are still in pain as a family about losing two children in just one instance,” Sibashe said.
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George Mthethwa, spokesperson for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, warned members of the public to stay away from rivers and dams to prevent similar incidents in future.
He said seven people drowned in May and June, bringing the number to 20. Mthethwa said the youngest victim was a nine-year-old boy who drowned while swimming in a farm dam.
