Leon Mulaudzi loved computers and he carried his laptop wherever he went ... but today he lies submerged in the deep belly of the Nandoni Dam.

He drowned while fishing at the dreaded dam, thus adding to the ever increasing statistics of people swallowed by the dam. The drowning took place on Saturday around 16:00.

Nobody knows why he went fishing, as his hobby was designing graphics and he also left his laptop at a house not far from the dam when he went fishing. Mulaudzi was to turn 18 later this year. He stayed in Ha Budeli outside Thohoyandou and was a Grade 11 pupil at the SASA Combined School.

Information at our disposal is that he went to the dam together with a friend. It is alleged that they found a boat used by one of their friends. The only person who was there was the girlfriend of the owner of the boat, who later left for the village.

It is alleged that they had already collected many fish and that the small boat then experienced problems. Leon remained in the boat, while his friend left it. While looking back to the boat, the friend saw the boat capsizing, upon which he went back. He managed to get back and helped Leon to a nearby tree branch and ran to look for help.

On his return, Leon was no longer there...

His untimely death has left his family anguished. His mother, Tshamano Mulaudzi, says they are devastated and still struggling to come to terms with the loss. "My son was a computer genius, who would design whatever would be needed.”

Coincidentally, the spot where the boy is alleged to have drowned used to be their home before they were relocated during the construction of the dam. She is also pointing an accusing finger to the police, whom she blames for not assisting the family. “The incident happened on Saturday afternoon, but police only arrived on Sunday, and they did nothing. We gave them suggestions from another witness, which they refused. We are very disturbed by this form of behaviour,” she said.

She said she found the boat used by her son on Monday morning when she went to pray with her mother. The boat had a hole in it, which suggested that it could have hit something in the water before capsizing.

The anguished mother is also pointing an accusing finger at the Department of Water Affairs for not putting danger signs next to the dam. “Look, the dam is just a few metres from the houses, but there is no fencing or even warnings; the department should do something."

So far, more than 30 people have died in the dam through drowning and other forms of death, including those killed by crocodiles. Mr Solomon Baloyi of the Complaints Resolutions Committee said they had, on a number of occasions, raised the issue of safety at the dam.

Not long ago, one of Vhembe’s senior traditional leaders, Vho Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli, also added his voice and made calls for the dam to be regulated. He said at the time that those wishing to catch fish at the dam should be licensed which should be done through the traditional leadership, who know their subjects.

Limpopo police spokesperson in Vhembe Capt Mashudu Malelo said they were acting on the information of the witness who was with the man believed to have drowned. He said the area where the boy is alleged to have drowned was infested with crocodiles, which made it very difficult for them to work in the area. He said they had addressed the family and the community on how they work. “We are also human beings. We know the pain of losing a loved one and we are very worried that the body has not been found so far. What we are concerned about this time is to find the body and after that we will embark on a campaign to make people aware of the dangers of the water,” he said.