Water claims too many lives

A SPATE of drownings has claimed the lives of both young and old this holiday season.

Yanga Mvibi (29) died after drowning at the Margate swimming pool last Saturday at about 3.20pm, said police spokesman Captain Gerald Mfeka.

A teenage boy (13) drowned in a dam in the Msinsini area near St Faiths last Thursday.

A 18-month-old child drowned in a pool at a home in Uvongo and, in a separate incident, a 25-year-old woman drowned at a complex in Shelly Beach on Tuesday last week.

A child (3) survived a near drowning at St Mike’s, and another child escaped a near drowning at Port Shepstone tidal pool. A person had a close call at Southport beach last Wednesday.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid said police divers and search and rescue members were called out to a number of drownings during December.

Eight of the drownings occurred in rivers and seven bodies have been recovered from these rivers, which include the Umtamvuna, Mhlanwa, Ohlangeni, Malenge, Mbongo, Ibisi and the Gungununu rivers.

A body was also retrieved from Blayden Falls dam in the Franklin area.

Lt-Col Wiid said it was alarming to see that many of the victims had been children.

She said police urge the community to be responsible and cautious when going near any dams, rivers and the ocean.

“Never swim at beaches which do not have demarcated areas to swim and do not cross low water bridges of rivers which are in flood. Stay away from rivers and dams as well as the ocean if you cannot swim,” said Lt-Col Wiid.

She stressed that children should always be under constant supervision.

On behalf of the Hibiscus Coast Municipality, the mayor, Councillor Nomusa Mqwebu, sent her condolences to the families of victims of drowning incidents that occurred at several Hibiscus Coast beaches.

“The municipality urges residents and visitors alike to swim in demarcated areas only, and ensure that they comply with the advice of lifeguards on the beach,” said Cllr Mqwebu.