Grief overwhelms mother of boy who drowned swimming at Luvuvhu river

“I never thought I would lose my first-born child at a very young age. As a family we are just shattered by a double death we never thought of.”

Meanwhile, in Phalala, the family of Thapelo Magopola, 10, is still looking for closure because  he was swept away on January 1 and has not been found yet.

Thapelo was with Jan Monare, 10, who was visiting the family at the time as well as 18-year-old teenager who lives in the area. Jan’s body was found the same day while the teenager managed to free himself from crocodiles and swam to safety. 

Family spokesperson Maphuthi Motlogeloa 31, said the river is not far from their house but that Thapelo and Jan were too young to have been able to handle its heaviness.

“We are devastated. We are just waiting for him to be found so that we may have closure, find a way to bury him and move on with our lives.  

“We are always coming into this river [Phalala] hoping that maybe we will find his T-shirt, his shoe or anything that belonged to him,” said Motlogeloa.  

Thapelo’s family is pleading with the rescuing team to send more divers to continue with a search for their son. 

Limpopo police spokesperson Col Stephen Thakeng has urged parents to always know the whereabout of their children.”There are rivers that are infested with crocodiles and hippopotamus and it is dangerous to allow children to swim there,” said Thakeng.  

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