Two drown during lockdown honey quest
SCORES of sad Mfekayi residents waited patiently near Inyalazi River in Mtubatuba while police divers retrieved the bodies of two men who drowned on Tuesday afternoon.
It is reported that three friends had gone to a neighbouring farm to look for honey.
Sole survivor Siphamandla Ndabandaba (16), said that he and his companions, Asanda Nene (16) and Zamani Dlodlo (27), had used a bridge to cross the river.
On their way back he told his friends that he would take a shortcut by swimming across the river, and he instructed them to use the bridge as he had never seen them swimming.
‘When I checked back as I was about to get across, I realised that the two had already entered the water, and they were struggling to swim,’ said Ndabandaba.
‘I went back to assist them, and I decided to save Asanda first, as he was younger than Zamani.
His desperate attempts to save them were in vain.
‘I tried to pull them both, but they were too heavy for me.
‘I became exhausted and had to leave them.
‘Everything was happening so fast and I was alone, trying to save my friends.
‘I went back to the water again and managed to get hold of Asanda. I tried to pull him up but he was pulling backwards. I got exhausted again and left the river,’ Ndabandaba said.
Ndabandaba claimed that on a third attempt, he could not find them and decided to report the matter to the elders and police.
Ward 11 Cllr Zakhele Nyawo said the community was devastated over the tragedy.
‘The community claims that this is not the first time it happened, and they have noted that only males drown in this river,’ he said.
Nyawo further urged residents to obey lockdown regulations.
‘If these men had observed the lockdown regulations, this incident could have been avoided.
‘We wish to convey our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased,’ Nyawo said.
uMkhanyakude cluster police spokesperson, Captain Jabulani Mdletshe, confirmed that two cases of drowning were registered at KwaMsane SAPS for investigation.