Children die crossing swollen river

Two primary school pupils have tragically drowned while crossing the Pongola River.

Fezile Mabika (9) and Nelisiwe Gumede (14) had been crossing the river with a group of other children after school on Tuesday. Four other girls were also caught in the raging water but were rescued by a passerby.

Both the bodies were recovered by Wednesday afternoon.

The children were part of a group of six girls from nearby Hlazane Primary School who were reportedly collecting sugarcane on their way home from school when the incident occurred.

Local ward councillor Johnson Gwala says one of the bodies was located by a community member after the search had been called off for the day.

‘Divers started searching the river at 2.30pm on Tuesday but weather conditions deteriorated and they decided to stop the search as it was becoming dangerous.

‘The search was to be continued the next day but as we were about to leave the river one of the community members saw the body as it was floating.’

According to SABC news, a team of psychologists has been dispatched to the school. The psychologists will assist the four other girls who narrowly escaped death.

Provincial MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Mike Mabuyakhulu, says disaster management teams have been dispatched all over the province to check deaths and damage from the recent heavy rains.

‘We think that the school children together with the teachers deserve to have counselling as we believe that this will ensure that they are able to cope with the situation.

‘There has been extensive damage caused by the heavy rain throughout KZN and we now know that 10 people lost their lives in these tragic circumstances. However the extent of the damage is still being quantified,’ says Mabuyakhulu.

The Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal sent their heartfelt condolences to the families of the two Hlazane Primary School children.

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, teachers and fellow pupils during this difficult time’ said acting Head of Department, Edward Mosuwe.

It is believed that recent heavy rains and the opening of the sluice gates at the Jozini Dam led to the flooding.

It has also been reported that the recent heavy rains have destroyed houses in areas surrounding the Pongola River.