AFTER a month without running water, residents decided to use the local dam to bathe.
And on Tuesday, 9 August, as usual the Madondo family from Mvutshini Village in Mtubatuba, northern KZN, went to the dam to bathe.
But tragedy struck when 18-year-old Ntokozo drowned while trying to cross the dam to bathe on the other side.
Ntokozo was with his uncle Mzamo Khanyile (39) when he drowned.
Mzamo said they were swimming across the dam to bathe on the other side when Ntokozo drowned.
“We usually swim across the dam because children fetch water and women wash clothes on one side. But on Tuesday, I really don’t know what went wrong.
“I was leading and he was following.
“He called me and told me he was getting a little bit tired. At that time, we were in the middle of the dam,” said Mzamo.
He said he then stopped and asked if Ntokozo needed help.
“He told me he was fine and would be able to swim without any help but in the blink of an eye, he went under water.
“But he did not resurface. I panicked and went to search for him,” he said.
Mzamo said he could not find Ntokozo. and people who were watching nearby told him where they saw Ntokozo.
“I rushed and searched where they were pointing, but I could not find my nephew.“I then went out and alerted the family and other residents.
“We called for help and the search is still on,” he said.
Mzamo said they are still waiting beside the dam and the situation is very tense.
Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said KwaMsane police received a drowning complaint at Hluhluwe Dam.
Ngcobo said the scene was still active and a search was continuing.