Africa-Press – South-Africa. The family of 11-year-old Siyamanga Bence, who drowned while swimming with friends on Friday in Wesbank, say they are grief-stricken after his body was pulled from a canal at the weekend.
Cape Town police confirmed that Siyamanga’s body was found on Saturday following an extensive search operation.
Siyamanga’s uncle, Sebenzile Kiva said the family were struggling to come to terms with their son’s death.
“His parents are putting on a brave face but they are obviously not okay.”
Kiva said the family went to Tygerberg mortuary on Monday to view Siyamanga’s body and were now preparing for his funeral on Saturday in the Eastern Cape.
“We don’t suspect foul play and we don’t blame anyone for his death,” added Kiva.
Cape Town police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said the police responded to a complaint of a missing person on Friday.
“An immediate search with community members and police was implemented with the assistance of the provincial diving unit. The search was stopped at around 19:00,” he said.
Swartbooi said the diving unit continued their search the following morning and retrieved the boy’s body from the water. He was declared dead at the scene by the medical personnel.
Kiva said his nephew was a good boy who loved playing with friends and being active.
“The friends were questioned by police as the circumstances leading up to his death were unclear and the boys were scared to speak. I’m sure this experience also traumatised them so we just want the community to support them too,” said Kiva.
The Wesbank community was left in shock following the drowning.
Vivienne Wyngaard, who is part of the Wesbank Walking Bus project which walks pupils to and from school, said when patrol members got to the scene on Friday the boys who had been with Siyamanga were scared and confused.
“The children told us they were swimming in different parts of the canal but they all went home together. Siyamanga and a few other boys allegedly came back to the spot where he later drowned,” said Wyngaard.
“The canal is a popular swimming place for the children in the community but it is very dangerous,” she said, adding that she hoped the area would be blocked off so no one else drowned.
Mfuleni police registered an inquest for further investigation.
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