By Chris Gilili
A boy of three has drowned after falling into an uncovered hole in a neighbour’s unfenced yard.
Khesani Macheki, who was described by his father as a “happy, playful child”, wandered across to the neighbour’s yard in Itireleng in North West on Sunday afternoon.
The hole, which is about two metres deep, is full of water due to heavy rains over the weekend.
“This is tragic. I’m not sure how we are going to get past this. I am in pain,” said Khesani’s father, Simon Macheki.
“I don’t even know where to start in preparing to bury my son.”
Simon said he was out on Sunday when he got a call telling him to rush home.
Zachariah Mave, the neighbour who owns the fenceless yard, said he is shattered by the tragic accident.
“It happened about half an hour after I left my house. I went to watch soccer at the local grounds. Someone called me and said I must rush home. When I got home, there were people already surrounding the area,” he told Scrolla.Africa.
He said he dug the hole to get soil to make bricks.
“I was planning to fence off the hole but I was still trying to get poles and fencing wire,” he said.
“I am so hurt. I know the parents of this boy. We come from the same village in Zimbabwe. My wife and the boy’s mother are friends,” said Zachariah.
Police Spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said an inquest docket was opened by Hebron police.
Ward 10 councillor Fenky Phaloane said he will visit the family.
“It is so unfortunate to lose the life of a three-year-old like this. I will visit the family tomorrow and see what kind of help we can give them. This is devastating to the family, as well as the community of Itireleng,” said Fenky.
The father said they needed R5,200 to bury his son and they didn’t have the cash as they survive on odd jobs.
Pictured above: the hole the three-year-old drowned in
Source: supplied
