Young girl one of three Mthatha drowning victims

THREE people have drowned Mthatha since New Year’s Day.

The youngest was an eight-yearold girl who drowned while taking an afternoon dip at Mthatha Dam on Tuesday at 3pm.

Mthatha police spokeswoman Captain Dineo Koena said the little girl had gone into the water with her cousins under the supervision of her aunt, who lives in Thabo Mbeki informal settlement in Mthatha West.

“The aunt saw that the children were in trouble and managed to pull them out but could not save the little girl,” she said. “Her body was eventually recovered by divers.”

Koena cautioned people from swimming in the dam as there were no lifeguards.

“We discourage people swimming at the dam. It’s very deep and very dangerous to swim there.”

Koena said the body of a man in his 30s was found floating in the Mthatha River near Corhana village less than 5km outside Mthatha at 7pm on Tuesday.

The victim was only wearing underpants and had no visible wounds, which led police to suspect that he might have drowned. in

“We are trying to locate his next of kin,” Koena said yesterday.

An inquest had been opened to try and establish the cause of death.

She said the victim was dark in complexion and had a small goatee and was tall.

People who are looking for a missing relative can contact Lieutenant Colonel Nodlabi at the Ngqeleni Police Station on 079 890 0806.

On New Year’s Day, police divers also retrieved the body of a 50-yearold man found by community members floating in the Mthatha river.

Koena said they suspected the victim had gone fishing but had possibly slipped from the rocks.

“His two fishing rods were found next to where he is believed to have drowned,” she added.

The Dispatch yesterday reported that Mnquma local municipal bosses had been criticised for not hiring life guards after six people – four males and two females – drowned at the unprotected Qolora-by-sea beach in Centane between December 26 and 30.

One person drowned while another is believed to have drowned at Port St Johns’ popular Second Beach prior to Christmas.

Only one body has been recovered so far. —