Drownings in Mankweng a serious cause for concern to the police

THE Mankweng police have warned residents of Ga-Molepo and the surrounding villages to be extremely cautious when swimming, especially in large, deep bodies of water.

This comes after the number of drownings in the area increased alarmingly recently with the most recent incident being the death of a man in his twenties who drowned in Rampheri dam in Ga-Molepo late Sunday afternoon.

Mankweng police spokesperson, Const Matimba Maluleke said reports indicated that a group of people were swimming alongside an inflated tyre tube when one of them disappeared under the water. “Emergency officials, including a team from the police’s search and rescue unit were dispatched but it was too late. Rescue divers pulled the man’s lifeless body from the water on Monday morning after the search was called off on Sunday due to poor visibility under the water,” he said.

Maluleke urged people to be extra cautious since water and their tides were very unpredictable. “Always swim where there is a lifeguard,” he recommended.

This year alone, seven people have lost their lives in Rampheri dam, including a 4-year-old child. Swimming and watercraft were the most common activities being undertaken immediately prior to the drownings. Kgoshi Maishe Molepo said: “I have pleaded with government from time to time to fence off that dam. It is dangerous to the people. We cannot expect the police to patrol the dam, but if it was fenced off people would stop going there”.