Young boy drowns in farm dam

AN 11-year-old boy drowned in a farm dam in Alexandria on Monday, after sneaking onto the farm for a swim with friends.

Police spokeswoman Captain Mali Govender said Siyabonga Pikinini, from Kwanonqubela in Alexandria, had gone swimming with a group of friends at about 4pm.

None of the group were resident on the farm.

"While the boys were swimming, Siyabonga disappeared under the water. His friends tried to find him but to no avail,” said Govender.

"The police were called to the scene and police divers helped in the search for the body of the boy. He was later found on the surface.”

An inquest docket has been opened.

Siyabonga was a Grade 6 pupil at Bongweni Primary School in Alexandria and lived with his mother.

Govender said police had noted that an increasing number of children are swimming in dams and rivers without supervision.

"Childreneither trespass onto farms or make use of municipal dams, a hole that is filled with water, streams that are now overflowing after the rain,and swim without anyadult supervision or even a responsible person present. Most of them are not strong swimmers andoften get into difficulty,” she said.

"It has been noted with concern that children and young adultstie empty plastic two litre bottles to their arms and use it as safety bands or they swim in the dams clinching the empty bottles under their arm pits. Despite warnings given to them and the dangers of their actions explained to them, they continue to disregard this.”