Two children drown in Schaapkraal dam tragedy

Two children aged nine and 12 died after drowning in a dam in Schaapkraal, Philippi at the weekend. 

According to reports, the children were playing along the field and decided to cool off in the dam along Olieboom Road near the Jim se Bos informal settlement due to the heat. 

A resident from the informal settlement who was on the scene said everyone was in a panic once they learned two boys were in trouble and stuck in the dam. 

“I couldn’t go too near because my heart would not be able to handle it. But people were shouting, many were on their phones trying to get help from Fire and Rescue Services, the ambulance, or anyone,” the resident said. 

He said eventually, once many people got through to the relevant authorities, the scene was filled as enforcement agencies tried rescuing the children. 

“This is such a sad incident. As a community, we pray this does not happen again. Our children need to be protected. Not die young,” the resident said. 

Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk confirmed the incident. 

“Philippi police registered an inquest following the drowning of two boys aged nine and 12 on Sunday, February 8, at 12.30pm at a dam in Jim se Bos informal settlement, Olieboom Road, Philippi. A postmortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” van Wyk said. 

He said the bodies of the young boys were retrieved by members of the SAPS Western Cape Water Policing and Diving Services. 

Cape Times