BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A 15-year-old Lupane boy drowned while swimming after collecting his grade seven results as he attempted to get a home-made canoe boat to cross over Ndamuleni Dam.
Lupane police said Marshal Nyathi of Ndamuleni Village, under Chief Mabhikwa drowned on Monday at around 4pm as he attempted to get a canoeing boat for his friends .
“Circumstances are that on 5th day of December 2022 at about 9am, the deceased Marshal Nyathi went to Ndamuleni Primary School to collect his grade seven results,”Lupane records read.
” On his way home, the deceased teamed up with his friends Brian Mathe (15) and Yusof Chirongoro (13) both from the Ndamuleni village and proceeded to Ndamuleni Dam for fishing.”
Police said after failing to catch some fish, they then decided to swim.
” On the same day at around 4pm, the team undressed themselves intending to swim,”
” Edward Ncube (59) who was also fishing at the same dam warned the children not to swim at the dam.
” The deceased did not take heed and went on to swim across the dam with the intention to collect a homemade canoe so that he could assist his colleagues to cross over to the other side of the dam.
” The deceased swam to the middle of the dam, but failed to collect the canoe and as he tried to swim back, he drowned.”
Police said, although Ncube had tried to rescue the deceased, the force of water prevented him.
“At around 6pm, his grandfather Paul Dhlamini (71) proceeded to the scene with other villagers, but could not manage to retrieve the deceased’s body since it was dark until the following day.”