14 Aug 2018

Kutlwano Police in Francistown have warned the public, especially children, about the dangers of swimming in one of the wells along the Tati River.

The warning follows the drowning of an eight-year old Satellite primary school boy on August 9.

 The incident happened at around 5pm in a deep well behind Nkgwana residential park near New Stance location.

The Station Commander of Kutlwano Police Station Superintendent Neo Serumola confirmed the incident saying the matter was reported to the police by a 10-year old boy at around 630pm and the police rushed to the scene,.

He said the deceased, who was doing standard four at Satellite primary school, was swimming with other four when the incident happened.

He said the police trawled the well but could not retrieve the body due to darkness.

He said the body was retrieved the following day through the help of the Botswana Defence Force scuba divers. 

Superintendent Serumola further explained that the body of the deceased had been handed over to the parents while police investigations continued. 

He appealed to parents to always warn their children of the dangers of swimming without the supervision of elders saying this was the second incident to happen in his area of jurisdiction since the beginning of the year. 

An eye witness Mr Moffat Kala, who is one of the first people to be at the scene, explained that he was puzzled when passing by to hear one of the boys saying “Fa le ntlogela jaana a ke tla kgona go goga motho ke le nosi”  meaning that “do you think I will manage to retrieve the deceased alone”. It was then that he realised there was a problem and learnt of the misfortune upon enquiry.

Mr Kala explained that many children had drowned in the well but it seemed children were not taking heed of their advice on the dangers of swimming in the well. ENDS