Toddlers drown in makeshift well
uMkhobose family reeling after aunt finds bodies floating in well.
AN uMkhobose family without access to clean water, on Saturday lost two toddlers who drowned in a makeshift well the family use for survival.
Owing to the lack of a decent water supply, the Mbatha family use the well as their main source of water.
The two children were found floating in the well by their aunt. They were playing outside at the time.
‘We normally use water from the tanks for our drinking water, but they are far and sometimes even empty,’ said their uncle Bheki Mbatha.
‘The well was our main source to access water for other household activities.
‘Pipes were installed more than two years ago, but we still don’t have water. We will close the well to avoid any further incidents in the future.’
The community is outraged about the incident, accusing the municipality for not providing them with a good water system.
Ward 13 councilor Cyprian Kweyama said they are still in a process of installing water pipes, and some homes already have water.
‘In the meantime we have provided tanks in the area for those without water. The process of installing water supply is ongoing,’ Kweyama said.
eSikhawini police spokesperson, Lt Thembinkosi Mkhumane, said the incident is being investigated.
‘The police are looking into it to ascertain what happened.’
The toddlers were laid to rest at their home on Wednesday.
