A 12-year-old boy, Thembinkosi Nkosi, drowned on 11 January in a trench which was allegedly left open by a contractor who was doing some work around Kwa-Zanele’s new Ext 6, in Breyten.

Ms Kelly Nkosi, mother of Thembinkosi spoke out after the incident.

On the morning of the drowning, Thembinkosi did not say where he was going, but she later learnt he took his dog and went hunting with his friends.

ASLO READ: 12-year-old boy drowns in Breyten after trying to rescue his dog

“They were playing and wanted to see if the dogs could swim, but once it seemed to Thembinkosi that his dog was drowning, he jumped in the water to rescue him,” a distraught Ms Nkosi said.

His friends ran home to tell her what happened before police and divers were dispatched to the scene.

“When I saw my son’s body, I felt like it was a dream from which I was going to wake up and he would still be here.”

“He was a playful child who loved jokes, listened attentively and always helped around the house.

“He loved being indoors.”

He was a Grade 5-learner at Siyazi Primary School and according to his mother enjoyed school very much.

“He was a clever child and I miss him a lot.”

She thanked the police and rescue divers who retrieved her son’s body.

“Even though the pain of his death torments me, I was at least able to see his body for which I will be forever grateful.”