Hundreds of mourners, amongst them the MEC for Safety and Liason, Ratshivhanda Ndou,Vhembe District municipality manager Muthotho Sigidi, acting mayor of Makhado, Cllr Lindiwe Lowane, chiefs, councillors from the Makhado municipality and community structures, converged at Tshisevhe Primary School grounds to pay their last respects to two learners who had drowned in a cattle dip about two weeks ago.

The mood was sombre, with school kids and family members shedding tears and collapsing during the funeral of the two Grade R learners who drowned in a chemical-filled cattle dip at Tshimbupfe. The two, Dzivhuluwani Mudau and Khumbelo Mushiana, both five years old, drowned on their way home from school. They drowned under unclear circumstances, but it is suspected they might have attempted to play at the dip before drowning.

The two young boys were buried during an emotional joint service but at different cemeteries in the village on Sunday.

Speaker after speaker called for parents to take care of their children and to regard every child as their own.

The local traditional leader, headman Nthumeni Mukwevho, said the incident had left the community wondering as to what might have happened to the poor kids and who was next. He said since the dip was built in 1948, no incident had happened. He said it was not the only dip in the village. He said the other two had already been relocated as they were right in the middle of a residential area.

"Only this one was left and only fate knows why it was left in this area and not moved far away from people," he said. He said it was sad that such young lives were to be lost in that way. He told mourners that the royal council, together with other community structures, would sit down urgently and decide whether to relocate or fence the dip. "We have to prioritize this as our children still use this way to their homes and we never know what could happen," he said.

The MEC for Safety and Liaison, Mr Ratshivhanda Ndou, said it was a collective duty of all to take care of the children. He said parents should make sure that their children play in safe areas and if they are found to be wandering around unsafe environments, they should be called to order and reprimanded. "All of us have a responsibility to look after the young ones, irrespective of whose child it is; they are all our children. Let´s go back to the time when it took the whole village to raise a child," he said

Family representatives said they were still shocked about the incident. Mr Alex Mudau, representing the Mudau family, said the family was still wondering as to what had happened to their boy. "He was a very intelligent boy and we were still awaiting good things from him, but he is gone and we will have to accept it," he said. Mudau said the family was consoled by the support they got from the community and hopes this will cope with time. Robert Mushiana, representing the Mushiana family, said the family was still confused. "We have put everything in the hands of God and we hope this will heal with time. We shall always remember our boy," he said.

Local and provincial businesses put their weight together and helped the grieving families. Lufuno Mphaphuli, Tshitshithe and Bros Funeral Undertakers, Rantal Polokwane, Lazarus Mathivha and Aubrey Mulaudzi of Aubs Motors were some of the businesses that helped.