The community of Tshivhilwi outside Thohoyandou is reeling in shock, after the disappearance of a 12-year-old boy, whom the community believes has been killed by a crocodile.

Mpho Mugwena, a Grade 6 learner at Londolani Primary School, is alleged to have sneaked from his home on Saturday morning with three other boys to tend cattle and goats at Mutavhe, not far from the Mutshundudi River. It is suspected the boys went to Mutshundudi River for a swim and that young Mpho was caught by a crocodile. He has not been seen again.

News of his disappearance spread like wildfire and within no time the river was swarming with people who combed the waters in a bid to find the body. On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of community members were still keeping vigil at the scene where the boy is suspected to have disappeared, while others were busy combing the water for the body.

Police were also investigating the scene, trying to locate the killer-crocodile, which was seen at the scene the previous day.

Ms Nyawasedza Khorommbi, the boy’s granny, said the boy came to her at home while she was having her breakfast at about 11:00 on Saturday. He requested her to take two goats to the bush with some other boys, who were tending cattle there. “This surprised me, as there was no need for him to take them to the bush. He used to tie them not far from home as there is enough food for goats nearby, but on that day he decided to leave them and go to the bush. It might be that something was urging him to go to the bush,” said the sad granny.

Khorommbi said she did not realize that the boy was far away from home, as she had refused him permission to go to the bush. The granny said she went to where the boys were, but the other boys ran away without telling her what had happened. She said they went to the river with other community members, but did not know what to do.

“Out of frustration, we sat down next to the river as we were also tired. While sitting there we noticed some dirty bubbles coming out of the water. After some time we realized that there was a crocodile, which was swimming next to the spot where the boy is said to have disappeared,” she said.

The crocodile is said to have disappeared under the water, never to be seen again. “We are very shocked and saddened. We do not know what could have happened, but we would like to see his body, so that we can give him a decent funeral if he is dead. It will be a painful experience for the family, if we do not find the body, to conduct a funeral. We are just hoping that the police will do their best and locate the body,” she said.

Police and community members have been trying to leave a dog as a bait to lure the crocodile, but so far the trick has not worked as no crocodile has been caught.

The boy´s father, Mr Nelson Nkhumbuleni Mugwena, said he was saddened by the incident, but was saddened even more by the reluctance of the police to help. “We were told a long time ago that a boat was coming to help with the search, but so far nothing has happened. Only community members are sweeping the river bed for the body, while police are sitting in the shade. We thought that they would help us retrieve the body, but it seems as if they are there to see us suffer,” he said.

Meanwhile, the incident has ignited an outcry from the community, who feel that not enough is being done by the police in terms of incidents of drowning. Residents are worried that no personnel and resources are available to help retrieve the bodies of people who have drowned or been killed by crocodiles. Thohoyandou police spokesperson Capt Mashudu Malelo said police divers were busy combing the river for the body. “We have dispatched our divers and they have a boat ready to search for the body. We are hopeful that in no time we will have retrieved the body. We understand the pain the family is feeling, and we will do all in our power to speed up the search,” he said.

Malelo said they were investigating the allegations and, if the body could be found, they would open an inquest docket.