Man drowns in KZN pool of danger 

By Lungi Langa

An abandoned quarry mine became a source of relief for the residents of eNseleni, who jumped in to cool off, not knowing the dangers that lay below. 

With heat blazing across South Africa, video footage emerged of residents jumping in and out of the stagnant water, which they’ve been using as a pool since November. 

Then, on Friday morning, the body of 42-year-old Ndoda Mthethwa was retrieved from the pool. He had drowned there on Thursday.

Mthethwa’s brother, Nathi Manqele, 41, said they were still in shock, adding that Mthethwa had been returning from Richards Bay, where he did odd jobs such as washing and guarding cars, when he saw people at the pool and joined in. 

“He had never been there and had often wondered what happened at the pool and went to see. Unfortunately he didn’t make it out,” said Manqele.

Lwazi Mpanza,18, who is a patron of the Nseleni swimming pool, told Scrolla.Africa that they had been swimming in the pool since last November and believed it was safe.

“When people have difficulty swimming, we help them and advise them to swim closer to the edge of the pool. There has never been any drowning since we started swimming,” said Mpanza.

Professor Anja du Plessis of the University of South Africa (Unisa), said the water in the quarry needed to be tested as a matter of urgency.

Du Plessis said quarrying could release pollutants previously trapped in the rock into surrounding underground water sources and this would make the water dangerous.

“Chemicals such as iron, aluminium and sulphates can seep into the groundwater and make it dangerous for consumption. These pollutants’ as well as other pollutants mentioned, are significant human health hazards,” she told Scrolla.Africa. 

The water being stagnant could mean the presence of pathogens, such as e.coli and legionella among others, which can make people ill.

Environmental activist and campaigns coordinator for GroundWork, Rico Euripidou, said while it could be a concern, what should be more concerning is the danger of the quarry, as it was formerly an industrial site.

“Abandoned mines and quarries are dangerous places and the global experience is that deadly accidents can happen in any type of abandoned mine or quarry! 

“In many instances, this is because they are usually abandoned by the former owners and there are no, or insufficient, safety measures to prevent these fatalities,” said Euripidou.

Traditional leader Mfokazi Dube said they have been asking for the municipality to drain the water after the last company abandoned the site a year ago, but this call fell on deaf ears. 

When contacted on Thursday, councillor Musa Mthethwa confirmed the drowning and asked to be contacted later, but then stopped responding to calls or messages. 

However, drowning is not the only danger. The water was deemed potentially dangerous for those who enter. 

Pictured above: People have been coming in droves to cool off in the Nseleni pool amid several warnings from the traditional leadership in the area. 

Image source: eZaseNseleni kuphela Facebook page