19 Nov 2019

A 17-year-old teenager has drowned in Lotsane River near Palapye’s Khurumela ward on November 14. 

In an interview, Palapye Police Station commander Superintendent Mokopi Nawa said that the boy drowned in one of the stagnant pools in the Lotsane River. 

According to investigations, the deceased was with two other boys aged 14 and 15 taking a walk along the river banks. 

He said one of the boys statements indicate that when they arrived at the pool where they 17-year-old drowned he called on them to join him for a swim, but they declined because they were too scared to swim. 

The deceased then entered the pool and moved to the deeper end, where he drowned. 

Superintend Nawa said those who were with the deceased then called passersby and nearby Ipelegeng programme workers for help, who upon hearing the cry rushed to the scene, but arrived too late when the boy had already drowned.

He said the public members managed to remove the body from the pool and called the police to attend to the situation. The boy was certified dead upon arrival at Palapye Hospital. 

Superintendent pleaded with parents to monitor the children’s movements, especially in rainy seasons as flowing rivers and stagnant water pools could be hazardous. Ends