20 Nov 2018

A 13-year-old Semotswane boy, who recently completed his primary school leaving examinations, is reported to have drowned in the Shashe River  November 17 early in the morning.

Speaking in an interview with BOPA, Tonota station commander Superintendent Oteng Ngada said the boy drowned after going out with friends in search of wild fruits along the river.

He said the boy was said to have walked ahead of his friends searching for wild fruits along the river, and he is suspected to have then decided to go down to the river to drink some water.

He said later when his friends followed him, they found he had taken off his clothes and left them by the water pool, adding that they suspect the boy might have decided to swim in the pool before meeting his untimely passing.

He said upon realising that their friend had drowned, the others went on to notify their parents about the incident.

The police chief said they have so far recorded three drowning incidents in a space of three months in his policing area; two were recorded at the Shashe River and one at Dikgatlhong Dam.

Supt Nganda said around the independence holidays, a 22-year-old man drowned in the same pond, where the 13-year-old was retrieved.

“He drowned when he went for a swim with friends,” he said.

As for the Dikgatlhong incident, he revealed the man also drowned when he attempted to swim following an outing with friends to take pictures by the dam.

Supt Nganda said losing three people in a space of three months was worrisome and therefore advised people against swimming in rivers and dams.

He also advised parents to better supervise their children, urging them to warn their children to stay away from unauthorised swimming ponds to avoid such accidents. ENDS