POLOKONG. – 16-year-old Neo Nthebe will be laid to rest on 14 October. Nthebe lost his life last week after swimming in an Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) pump station in Zone 20 last week.

When Sedibeng Ster visited Nthebe’s family on Sunday, Scores of church members from Neo’s church had filled his home to pay their last respects.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, his family said that they are struggling to come to terms with his death as he was still so young.

Lindiwe Nthebe (28) says, “Neo left home on Saturday, 30th September as he was visiting his aunt and grandmother. We are told that on Thursday morning, Neo and his friends told the elders that they were going to play soccer at the sports complex in Zone 14. We don’t know how or why they decided to go to the pump station instead

“We received a call that Neo had passed away just after 12 on Thursday, 05 October and both me and my mom rushed to the scene. When we arrived, Neo’s body was still in the water. They said that the water level was too high and they first had to take the water out before his body could be retrieved.”

Lindiwe said she was deeply saddened as his brother still had a lot to live for. She described her brother as bubbly, talkative, and kind.
The mother Annah Nthebe said she will miss her son. “Neo was a humble child; I don’t recall him ever talking back at me. He was loved by all the young children living around us.

“I would like to call on the municipality to enhance security at the pump station so that more children don’t lose their lives,” she said.

Police spokesperson Captain Teboho Lephoto confirmed that an inquest case docket is opened for investigation.