The police in the Mopani Area are investigating two separate incidents in which seven children drowned. The first incident occurred at the Bolobedu settlement in the Ritavi policing area on Saturday afternoon at about 14:00.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the Mopani Area, Supt Moatshe Ngoepe, it is alleged that four children were swimming in a dam when the incident took place. While swimming, they moved to the deeper side of the dam where they drowned.

According to the police statement, while they were sinking, they started screaming and their shouts were heard by a man who was passing by. When the man arrived at the scene, he plunged into the dam and managed to rescue a 12-year-old boy.

Realising that it was difficult for him to save the situation, the man quickly rushed to the nearby homestead and informed community members about the incident. The incident was then reported to the police who responded by rushing to the scene.

On arrival, the police removed the bodies of Thabiso Phaala (18), Patrick Letsoalo (13) and Mokgadi Mahasha (13).

The other incident occurred at the Mhala settlement on Tuesday afternoon at about 17:00.

According to Supt Ngoepe, four children, whose ages range between 10 and 12, were swimming in a local dam when the incident took place. The police divers were called after the incident and managed to recover one of the bodies. The bodies of the other two boys, aged 10, were also removed later that evening.

Their names could not be revealed as the police were still searching for their next of kin at the time of going to press. The search for the body of the fourth boy was still on at the time of going to press. In the statement that was issued by the police early this week, they appealed to people not to let their children swim in dams or rivers without the supervision of parents. According to the police statement, 13 children had drowned in the area during the past three months.