Mutongomi River claims fourth life

The residents of Luvhalani Extension 3 in the Dzanani area expressed their concerns after a river in the village claimed the life of yet another victim on Saturday, March 29.

A nine-year-old girl, Mishumo Magada, a Grade 5 pupil at Tshikuwi Primary, drowned in the Mutongomi River.

According to eyewitnesses, she drowned while she was preparing to take a bath in the river. It was further revealed that Mishumo had noticed some boys coming from the other side. As she had already undressed herself and she did not want boys to see her naked, she suddenly jumped into the water.

"That was when she drowned, because she did not know how to swim. She was just trying to hide so that the boys could pass without seeing her naked body," they said.

Mishumo’s father, Mr Robert Magada, told Mirror that he was on his way to the ANC’s re-election meeting at Tshikuwi village when he was notified that had Mishumo drowned in the river. "I am still shocked about the incident. I feel very sad about what had happened to my little daughter," said Magada.

Mishumo was known of her participation in sports, more especially athletics. It was said by many that she was a heroic little girl who was always in the lead in every race she participated in.

Members of the community also told Mirror that Mishumo was the fourth person to drown in the same river. They also acknowledged that a serious intervention was needed from the municipality, to try and enclose or fence off the river so that people cannot go anywhere near it anymore, as it is claiming a lot of lives.

"How many people must die before the municipality will react to the situation? We need a serious intervention from the municipality," said one of the community members who wanted to remain anonymous.

Apparently the residents had reported the matter to the director of technical services at Makhado Municipality Mr Freddy Mamuremi, who visited the river last week.

The angry community members in the village, who were worried about their children’s safety, tried to fill the river with stones in an attempt to prevent the children from getting close to the water.

Other members of the community alerted Mirror about the danger of the place, saying that it was a place for the ancestors (Zwifhoni). They indicated that people should not go anywhere near the place as it might turn dangerous.

Insp Kedibone Muthuli, the spokesperson of the Mphephu Police, confirmed that the incident happened at about 12:00 in the afternoon. She further acknowledged that an inquest docket had been opened. "We are pleading with community members to make sure that children do not go near the river. Rivers are dangerous to the children," she said.

News - Date: 18 April 2008

Peter Muthambi

Peter Muthambi graduated from the University of Venda with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies. He started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror as well as national papers in 2006. He loves investigative journalism and is also a very keen photographer.

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