Two children drown in Memel dam
Residents are furious that the oxidation dams were completed but not in use.
The ashes of tragedy have sparked the flames of fury in the small community of Zamani, Memel.
In the wake of the drowning of two children in an oxidation dam over the weekend, fingers of accusation are being levelled at the Memel Municipality and tempers are frayed.
Foremost, many believe the deaths of the youths could have been averted.
Nine-year-old Tshepa Masigeng and 11-year-old Skhumbuzo Maduna drowned in one of the dams that was completed four years ago but never put to use, owing to continual upgrades of the sewerage network.
A resident said rainwater had filled the dam to about two metres deep.
It is believed Tshepa and Skhumbuzo entered the works through the broken/missing fence and unlocked gate on a sun-bathed Saturday, before slipping on the plastic lining of the dam and finding themselves in the murky water.
The bodies of the missing children were only recovered the following day.
Residents and trained SAPS divers, who travelled hours from Bloemfontein to facilitate the recovery, only removed the bodies from the water at 5pm on Sunday evening.
Ida Molepe, a relative of the children, said the children were only 500m metres from the nearby settlement.
After being informed of the children’s deaths at about 1pm, Mrs Molepe called a friend for moral support and was also asked to assist with the identification of the bodies.
The trauma of the drowning is conveyed in her words.
Residents have since fired off a barrage of questions and accusations at municipal officials of Memel, who previously met with the community regarding the drownings.
To date, there has been no feedback regarding the tragedy or the state of the oxidation dam facility.
