Durban — Siyamthanda Mkhize, a 13-year-old boy from uMlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, drowned while attempting to cross the uMlazi River to reach neighbouring Chatsworth, where he and his friends would play soccer.
The incident on Sunday has plunged his family and the community into deep sorrow.
“The pain we are feeling as a family is unbearable. We are asking ourselves many questions, but we don’t have answers,” said Siyamthanda’s uncle, Muzi Mkhize.
He shared that his nephew had been in his usual cheerful mood before tragedy struck.
“I couldn’t believe it when I received a call informing me that my nephew had drowned. It is still very hard to believe,” he said.
The youths frequently cross the river to enjoy soccer at the better-equipped sports grounds in Chatsworth, regardless of safety warnings from the community.
“We always try to warn them against swimming across the river because it is not safe. But kids will be kids, and they always find a way around every day,” said local leader Mcebo Mhlongo.
Adding to the community’s worries is the footbridge that connects uMlazi to Chatsworth, which is in disrepair and poses a considerable risk.
“We have held a series of meetings with our ward councillor, pleading with him to provide a better bridge for us. But he always tells us that bridges are outside of his scope as a councillor,” lamented Mkhize.
The Mkhize family, amid their mourning, hoped that Siyamthanda’s death would not be in vain.
“We hope and pray that Siyamthanda’s passing will spur the authorities to act and provide the much-needed bridge,” Mkhize added somberly.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) highlights the urgency of addressing water safety measures.
“Drowning is preventable, and the NSRI is committed to being at the forefront of reaching as many people as possible with our drowning prevention initiatives,” stated the NSRI.
Alarmingly, around 29% of fatal drownings involve children under 14 years, with approximately 450 such tragedies occurring annually in South Africa.
“We cannot afford to ignore the perils of drowning and the value of water safety measures. On average, there are approximately 1 484 drownings in South Africa each year,” the NSRI statement concluded, underscoring the necessity of urgent action.
As the community of uMlazi grieves the loss of a young life, the pressing need for safer infrastructure and heightened awareness of water safety becomes more apparent than ever.
This recent tragedy is not an isolated incident. In 2017, another 13-year-old child drowned in the same river while playing with friends, marking a grim pattern that underscores the urgent need for safety interventions.
Ward councillor Khumbulani Cele offered condolences to the grieving family and acknowledged the pressing concerns of the community.
“First, we would like to offer our condolences to the grieving family. Second, we are aware of the community’s concerns over the lack of a proper bridge. We have forwarded the concerns to relevant departments for intervention,” Cele stated.
He also urged residents to exercise extreme caution.
“We would like to reiterate that it is not safe to swim across. Old people must guard the young ones, who usually swim across the uMlazi River to Chatsworth,” Cele pleaded.
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