Residents of Silver City say the hole has been there for almost a month. Photo by Sammy Moretsi
PATRICK gave his son money for snacks and the little boy ran off to the spaza – but the little boy would soon be dead.
On Friday afternoon Thami Gacula (7) went to buy chips at a spaza in Silver City, Bekkersdal. The grade 1 pupil at Seatile Primary School ended up in a deep sewer.
The boy’s father, Patrick Mpisekhaya (42), rushed to the scene and dived into the hole to try and rescue the boy.
Thami was rushed to Mandela Clinic but he was declared dead on arrival.
“I tried to save my son but now he is gone,” said Patrick. “I loved him so much.”
Rand West City mayor Mzi Khumalo told Daily Sun that municipal workers couldn’t fill in the hole on Thursday.
“We had to hire an excavator from a local contractor to finish the job,” he said.
Khumalo said the hole was closed off with temporary fencing.
“We send our heartfelt condolences to the family,” he said.
Residents threw stones at the excavator, saying the scene of the tragedy must not be changed.
The residents claim the hole has been there for almost a month.
“The municipality came to dig here after there was a sewer blockage,” said resident Jacky Mosopa.
The mayor denied that the hole had been there for a month.
