Well-known ANCYL activist Michael Mudau has become the 36th victim of the Nandoni Dam.

Mudau (28), a former Raluswielo ANCYL branch chairman at Makwarela, drowned in the dam on Saturday.

The dam was constructed in 2007 and, because of the many drownings, communities are now complaining that there is no end in sight to the deaths as there is no proper control at the dam. Many are now complaining that, instead of providing water to the local communities, the dam has become a death trap.

According to information gathered at the scene, it is alleged that Mudau and his friends were relaxing at the dam, when a female companion, who was swimming in the dam, experienced problems in the water. Mudau, who managed to rescue the woman,  drowned in the dam.

Police divers retrieved Mudau's body with the help om Vhembe municipal officials.The friends apparently frequented the place and used to go and relax at the same spot during weekends.

The death of Mudau, a staunch member of the United African Apostolic Church, has sent shockwaves through the surrounding communities and leaders who have been calling for strict measures at the dam. News of Mudau's drowning spread like wildfire and, within a short space of time, the dam was swarming with people, while the distraught family members looked on.

As it was already late, police divers suspended the search, only to resume it in the morning. Mudau's body was allegedly found in the morning, floating close to the spot where he had drowned.

The arrival of the hearse sparked tears from members of the family, who cried uncontrollably when the body was lifted into the vehicle.

During Mirror's visit to the scene, community members, some as old as 70 years, went on with their business of doing their washing and some bathing in the dam, apparently not worried about the scene just next to them. One of those washing exclaimed that they no longer feared death as many of their relatives had died in the dam and that they did not have water in the village.

In 2009, the Public Protector, Adv Lawrence Mushwana, made recommendations, among them the issue of safety at the dam. The recommendations have so far not been implemented.

Reacting at the scene, community leader and chairperson of the complaints resolution committee at the village Mr Solomon Baloyi said it was sad that another life had been lost before any safety measures could be put in place. Baloyi said deaths would continue if nothing was done as a matter of urgency to curb them.

He said the local communities were vulnerable as they do not even have water to wash and drink as the taps go dry for months or, if water comes, it only does during the late hours of the night, when it is not safe to venture out. He said the whole dam is also swarming with deadly crocodiles, which are a danger to the communities.

“We are worried that, now that it is hot, more people are still going to be killed in this dam. We are also concerned about those who continue to venture into the water for fishing, as many of them have drowned,'"he said.

Mudau's distraught mother, Ms Magdalene Mudau, said she was at Itsani village in Tshisahulu attending a function when she heard about the incident. “I called my son at around 16:00, asking him to come and collect me, but he said he would come a bit later. When I called him for the second time around 17:00, the phone was answered by someone else, who told me something had happened to my son,“ she said.

She said she nearly fainted when she heardtold that he had drowned. “My son was everything to me and the family; losing him is like losing a part of me, “she said.

Family member Mr Bethuel Dagada, who was at the scene, described the death as a blow to the family. “We had all our eyes on him as a family. We looked up to him for assistance as he was a responsible man. His death has left us with a sore wound that will be difficult  to heal,” he said.

Mudau will be buried on Saturday (tomorrow).