VANDERBIJLPARK – Die Skipper van die boot waarop die 17-jarige, Thomas Sithole, vermis geraak en vermoedelik in die Vaalrivier verdink het, het ‘n persverklaring laat vanmiddag uitgereik.
Die skipper wie se identiteit aan Vaalweekblad bekend is, se prokureur het die volgende persverklaring namens hul kliënt uitgereik:
On behalf of our client, we wish to make the following statement to clarify the circumstances under which the incident occurred on Friday 9 January 2026. Firstly, would we like to convey our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Thomas, not only from our client and his family, but from our firm as members of the Vaal Triangle community.
This statement further serves to provide some insight into the incident, due to the various false and inaccurate allegations and speculation doing the rounds on social media.
Thomas was in the company of various friends and our client on the 9th of January 2026. The craft was boarded around 13:00 for a leisure day on the water. At all material times were the safety protocols followed which is applicable to craft operating in inland waters. The skipper was duly licensed, qualified and experienced in operating the craft.
After arriving at a well-known restaurant around 16:30, next to the Vaal River, Thomas and the other friends disembarked from the craft to buy food. The skipper remained with the craft. Accompanying the craft was a jet-ski which was piloted by another skipper, who also carried a passenger.
At around 17:35 the passengers and Thomas returned and two people left on the jet-ski. The remaining passengers, including Thomas then boarded the craft and it departed to the original launch site so that both could be removed from the water.
On the way to the launch site, a female passenger on the boat wanted to change places with one on the ski. Both craft then stopped so that the exchange could take place. After the exchange one of the passengers informed the skipper that Thomas was no longer onboard. An immediate head count was undertaken.
It was then ascertained that he was indeed not on the craft. All passengers were questioned to ascertain his whereabouts. Unfortunately, none of the passengers saw him disembarking the boat in any way as he was last seen sitting at the back of the 21-foot boat.
A search was conducted in the immediate vicinity where the passenger exchange took place, together with a shore search around the area. After confirming that he was not on the shore, the skipper contacted the SAPS water wing. This was done within 25 minutes of realising Thomas was not on the craft anymore.
The matter was then also formally reported at the Vanderbijlpark SAPS, who assisted the skipper further. The mother of one of the passengers tried to contact Thomas’s parents, whilst our client was interviewed by the SAPS. The parents were only reached later during the evening.
The skipper attended the scene on the 10th of January 2026, together with the other passengers and conveyed their sorrow to the parents of Thomas. A full statement was also provided to the SAPS regarding the incident. We were informed that a body was recovered from the Vaal river on Monday 2026, the body seemingly being that of Thoms Junior Sithole.
We ask that the community refrain from making uninformed comments on social media, as this does not constructively contribute to the investigation or the grieving process that will now follow.
Thomas was house friends with the skipper and his family. His loss has been a traumatic experience for their family, just like it has been for the Sithole family. They will meet with them in due course once the Sithole family is ready. In the interim our client will give his full co-operation to the SAPS and SAMSA.
