A devastating start to the year has shaken the community of Likazi Ward 14, as a promising young life was cut short in a heart-breaking drowning incident.

A teen’s life was tragically claimed by the murky waters of an alleged un-rehabilitated mine, a senseless loss that has left family, friends, and community reeling in shock and grief.

The fateful events earlier this week, unfolded when three boys went swimming.

His friends said he slipped and never resurfaced.

The agonising wait for rescue efforts was finally over on January 23, when SAPS and a diving team arrived.

The boy’s lifeless body was retrieved, and he was declared dead at the scene.

Maushe Collen, EFF PR Councillor, poignantly summed up the tragedy, and said, “Rehabilitation was not done at this mine. This tragedy could have been avoided. The community is now left to grapple with the painful reality of a young life lost, and the haunting question of what could have been done to prevent this senseless tragedy.”

This is a developing story.