The Odendaalsrus Police have opened an inquest following a tragic drowning incident involving an 11-year-old boy at a construction site in Kutlwanong, Odendaalsrus.
According to reports, the incident occurred on Saturday, 2 August 2025, at approximately 15:30. Police were called to the scene after receiving reports that three boys, aged between 10 and 11, had been swimming in an excavation pit filled with wastewater. While in the water, the boys allegedly became trapped in mud. Two of the children, both aged 10, managed to free themselves, but the 11-year-old victim remained stuck and tragically drowned.
The Welkom SAPS diving unit, led by Sergeant Arno Cronje, responded to the scene alongside the Matjhabeng Fire Department. After hours of effort, the boy’s body was recovered from the sewage-filled pit at around 20:20 on Saturday evening. Emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene, and his identity was later confirmed by his next-of-kin.
Authorities have urged parents to educate their children about water safety and the dangers of swimming in contaminated or unsupervised water sources.
The investigation into the incident continues as police work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
