Police divers retrieved the body of four-year-old Juju Ndaba, on Friday morning, after Juju had allegedly drowned in the Rookdale canal, Woodstock in Bergville, on Thursday afternoon.
It is believed that Juju and his friend had been playing near the open canal, on Thursday afternoon when the drowning allegedly happened. Ndaba’s friend told the Okhahlamba Municipal Chief Freddie Halgreen, that Juju and him had been playing, when Juju said that he was going to jump into the canal to catch a fish for them.
“The young witness said that Juju made his way into the water and that was the last time he had seen his friend,” said Halgreen. Halgreen immediately responded to the scene and he and three volunteers from Okhahlamba search and rescue, searched the waters the night before. It is reported that Juju’s friend had called for him, but did not come back and then after a while headed home.
“It was only after a while, did the mother notice that Juju was no longer with his friend. The temperature of the water was extremely cold and after an hour, we had gotten out and made arrangements with Ladysmith and Pietermaritzburg Search and Rescue and divers to assist with the search of the toddlers,” said Halgreen.
Halgreen and police returned to the scene and started searching the murky dark waters of the canal. “The pump system, which had been running on all four pumps were shut down, so that the level could ease down and help make the search for the toddler easy.”
With a rope and buddy system, Ladysmith and Pietermartizburg search and rescue officers walked the sides of the canal, while a diver searched the over 2 meter deep water.
The Rookdale canal is notorious for claiming the lives of young adults and children. “We have warned the community many times about the danger of the canal and swimming in it,” said Halgreen.
A fence that was built to keep members of the community away from the canal has been stolen. While the search team worked along the canal, Juju’s mother Noxolo Ndaba watched in horror as the search continued for her son’s body. “I’m so sorry, God did not have to take my son like this,” cried Noxolo Ndaba.
Search teams spent just over 30 minutes in the water, when they discovered the toddler’s body. Noxolo collapsed next to her son’s body after officials pulled the small lifeless body from the canal.
“He can’t be gone,” wept the mother next to her son’s body. The nearby community told the Ladysmith Herald that they have warned the children to stay away from the canal. “The children don’t always listen to us,” said a community member, who tried to console Juju’s mother.
Bergville police has opened an inquest and will be investigating the incident.
