KATLEHO Mangobe drowned in a man-made hole filled with water on Thursday, 27 January.
The five-year-old was playing with his friends when he was allegedly pushed into the hole.
According to local residents who witnessed the incident, the boys stood by the hole filled with water for more than 30 minutes after Katleho’s accident.
Speaking to Daily Sun at her home in Drieziek, near Orange Farm in the south of Joburg, Katleho’s mum Mulatedzi (36) said she had gone to run errands when her son died.
“I left my home early in the morning to go sort out my housing issues. I received a call in the afternoon that there were housing people at my home looking for me. When I got to my kasi, neighbours were already waiting for me at the stop sign. I knew right there that something was wrong. As I approached my shack, my husband was talking on the phone,” she said.
Mulatedzi said she was told that Katleho stepped out of their homw soon as she left and went to visit a friend.
“Her sister was called by the friend telling her that Katleho fell into the water. I always took my son with me, but that day I don’t know what made me leave him behind,” she said.
The distraught mother said she still couldn’t believe what happened to her son.
“I’m in so much pain. No parent would ever want to lose a child the same way I lost mine. I don’t wish what is happening to my family to happen to anyone,” she said.
Describing her little boy, Mulatedzi said Katleho was a very shy boy who loved playing.
She said she wished the holes could be closed for the safety of children.
“Parents should always know where their children are. But that hole is very dangerous I would like to see it closed,” she the distraught mother.
Katleho was Mulatedzi’s third child.
Gugulethu Fenyane (34), a neighbour who dragged Katleho from the hole, said she saw him moments before he drowned.
“I was cleaning my yard when the boy passed by running towards the big whole. There were already other children near that scary hole playing,” she said.
Gugulethu said she only learnt of the tragic accident when her children refused to do their homework.
“When I told them to do their homework, they told me they would not do it while there’s a dead boy in the hole. We then rushed to the hole and found the boy already floating in the water. I went in and the water came up to my neck. I took him out,” she said.
Gugulethu said she hadn’t been to visit Katleho’s family because she was still distraught.
Women In Action chairwoman Sophie Seamo said: “This is sad and very painful. Our councillors are failing us. This is not the first incident in Orange Farm. Our children are not safe. If it’s not manholes finishing our children, it’s illegal connections. I wish all councillors would take us seriously as much as they do when they want our votes.”
Orange Farm police spokesman Sergeant Shaan Motsapi said an inquest docket was opened and investigations were underway.
