AS a kid growing up in the small village of Makapanstad in the North West, one would always be curious to experience what the local streams, rivers and dams would offer during those days.
It was a chance to go fishing and collect clay for one to be creative or have fun by splashing it in the water.
This is despite knowing very well that no elderly person in the community would allow kids to put their toes in those waters. Those days, a stranger would catch us at the river, together with my friends, and we would get the worst beating of our lives and be taken to our homes.
It doesn’t end there after being ushered to our families, and when they learnt about where we were, the beating would continue.
In all essence, no parent wanted their child to go to those waters. So many strange stories about monsters living in those rivers, streams and dams were created to make sure that we would get scared when we thought of going there, but the most important message was that those places were dangerous.
Every year, more drowning incidents are reported around Mzansi and more so of grown people.
Religion and other cultural beliefs are pointed out as some reasons why people voluntarily go to such water areas only to be swept to their deaths.
The summer season and the scorching heat also tempt people to cool down at these somehow dangerous, unguarded places.
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Recently the deepest concerns raised by communities has been man-made dams which continue to claim the lives of people, especially the young ones.
They argue that through infrastructure development in their communities, some contractors leave ditches which get filled with water after rainy days, and such has claimed the lives of kids as they attempt to swim.
Also, local community businessmen who collect sand to sell to communities are guilty of creating these small dams that take the lives of kids. All in all, man-made or not, the biggest concern is that these rivers, dams and more are not secured away from the neighbouring communities, with no barricades.
Until it is agreed with land authorities that all these dangerous water areas get secured, more lives will continue to be lost.
