Newcastle children swim in dangerous dam despite drownings

Twelve-year-old Siphosakhe* from Mndozo village in Newcastle wants to compete as a swimmer one day. But there is no swimming pool anywhere near where he lives, so he and his friends sneak out to swim in a dam, disobeying their parents who are afraid the boys will drown.

Siphosakhe and his friends know about the boys’ drownings, but this does not stop them from swimming in another dam about two kilometres from the ‘’dam of death’’. ‘’I wish we could have a swimming pool in our village one day. Some of us are good at swimming and have dreams of becoming professional swimmers one day like the ones we watch on TV,’’ said Siphosakhe.

The only township swimming pool in Newcastle is in Madadeni, ten kilometres from Osizweni. For Qiniso and his pals, that is too far — unless their parents fork out R30 per child for a return taxi fare.

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