Sol Plaatje Municipality will investigate the need to fence off an area in Roodepan after a nine-year-old boy drowned near the Midlands dam on the weekend.
SOL PLAATJE Municipality will investigate the need to fence off an area in Roodepan after a nine-year-old boy drowned near the Midlands dam on the weekend.
Community members indicated that other drownings had occurred in the same place and called for the area to be cordoned off to the public, as children also played soccer near the dam.
SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Sergio Kock said the Roodepan police are investigating an inquest following the boy’s death.
“It is alleged that on September 15, at about midday, the nine-year-old boy and his friends went for a swim in a dam near Midlands, Roodepan, when he drowned. The SAPS Search and Rescue unit retrieved the boy’s body from the dam on Sunday,” said Kock.
He requested anyone with information that could assist the police to contact Detective Sergeant Mojalefa Setlai on 073 793 8583.
“The investigation continues,” said Kock.
Patriotic Alliance (PA) MPL Sharifa Obaray Ferris pointed out that they had embarked on a fund-raising campaign two years ago as they wanted to renovate the Roodepan swimming pool.
“We had to return the money we received from sponsors as the municipality would not grant us the necessary permission. The municipality promised to fix the pool, but two years later nothing has been done. A young life has been lost because there are no recreational facilities,” said Ferris.
She added that the PA chief whip would be mandated to take the matter up again in council.
“We want to know what happened to the funds that were allocated towards the swimming pool over the past two years while the project has been stagnant,” she said.
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi stated that R3 million would be allocated to repair and refurbish the Roodepan pool, the Brian Hermanus Community Swimming Pool and the Galeshewe Swimming Pool.
“Contractors are about to be appointed,” said Mothibi.
He added that the bulk of the allocation would be invested in the Roodepan Community Swimming Pool during this financial year.
“We will install new pumps and replace the asbestos roof at the Roodepan Community Swimming Pool. This facility has been a persistent target of vandals and thieves over the years,” Mothibi noted.
He added that the municipality’s investigation into whether it would be necessary to fence off the area around the Midlands dam would determine the next course of action.
“The pit is in a secluded area while the soccer field that has been in use over the years is situated within a residential area and is generally considered to be safe,” Mothibi said.
