Two grade R learners’ lives came to an unpleasant end when they drowned in a chemical-filled cattle dip on their way home from school on Monday afternoon.

The two young lives, those of Dzivhuluwani Mudau and Khumbelo Mushiana, both five years old and attending Tshisevhe Primary School, ended tragically under unclear circumstances. It is believed the two friends might have been tempted to play at the dip before they drowned. Family members said they noticed that the two were missing when they did not return home as usual.

The grief-stricken grandmother of Dzivhuluwani, Mrs Mukatshelwa Mudau, said the boy usually came back around one in the afternoon, but they were surprised not to see him. "I know my grandson’s time of coming home as I am always at home to welcome and feed him after school," she said. The sad granny said they began panicking after looking everywhere and also checking with the Mushiana family as the two boys were always together.

Mudau said they searched everywhere until the following day when somebody made the grisly find. "I am shocked beyond words and do not even know what to do," said the grief-stricken grandmother. "He was the apple of my eye, and life will never be the same again."

Mr Meshack Mushiana, the father of one of the deceased boys, could not contain himself and collapsed; he had to be taken to the trauma centre for counseling. Mr Joseph Mushiana, grandfather of Khumbelo, said the death had shocked the family. "These children went past this place all the time and it never crossed our minds that something like this could happen," he said. "The incident will linger in our minds for a long time."

The boys’ death ignited the anger of the community, who called for the immediate relocation of the cattle dip as they fear a recurrence of the incident. Eminent community leader and chairperson of the Tshimbupfe Nkwayini ANC branch, Thambulo Vhangani, blamed their deaths squarely on those who erected the cattle dip in a residential area. "This dip has to be moved to an isolated area and should not be here. Our children are still going to drown here if something is not done urgently." He said that, besides being a threat to the children, the cattle dip was also a health hazard as the chemicals used could be harmful to humans. Mrs Julia Mukhaha, a PR councilor in the Makhado Municipality, said something should be done about the dip before more lives were lost.

She said the community had declared the incident a disaster and all community structures had rallied together with the families to give the children a dignified funeral. As soon as word spread about the incident, lessons were suspended at local schools and children still clad in their uniforms kept vigil at the scene until the bodies had been retrieved.

At the Mudau house, which is just a stone’s throw from the scene, women from the local church were conducting prayers and comforting family members who were crying uncontrollably. The acting mayor of Makhado Municipality, Mrs Lindiwe Lowane, who was present during an impromptu community meeting, said she was shocked by the incident. She said the incident was very unusual and heartbreaking. "We cannot reverse the incident, but we can learn from this incident. We can do something to prevent a recurrence of the incident," she said. She said parents should help educate their children about the dangers of playing in an unsafe environment. She said the municipality would do everything in its powers to assist the families. She said her municipality was a caring municipality and it was the reason why they came to mourn with the families. She visited both families and conveyed condolences. At the time of going to press, no funeral arrangements had been finalized yet.

Police in Vuwani confirmed the incident and that two inquest dockets had been opened.