TRAGIC END
The lifeless body of a six-year-old boy with disability was on Friday exhumed from a deep muddy trench that was dug by Estate Construction Company in Ruele ward, Kanye.
The body was discovered by the deceased's 12-year-old brother who had been instructed by the parents to look for his younger brother, thinking that he had gone to play in the neighbourhood.
Unfortunately, the 12-year-old found his brother inside the muddy trench soaked in muddy water. The brother screamed, drawing his parents' attention to the manhole near the family's rented one-room house. The family hails from Gasita village.
The Estate Construction company has been working in Kanye for a while now, repairing worn-out sewage pipes throughout the village.
The grieving mother, 32-year-old Kealeboga Lejony revealed that the deep trench has been there for a while, with no cover or anything to caution members of the public about it. 'Just after my son fell and died inside the trench, the Estate Construction company moved swiftly to cover the trench, placing barricades around it,' the devastated mother said.
She revealed that her child was a student at Segopotso Primary School, under the special care unit. Lejony said Estate Construction Company has since promised to help take care of her son's funeral expenses.
However, Kanye residents who spoke to The Midweek Sun lamented that the company was responsible for digging deep trenches throughout the village and often leaving them uncovered, something they have always complained was
posing a danger to the lives of both residents and livestock.
Residents also revealed that Kanye previously experienced lots of rains, which lead to deep trenches collecting rainwater that is still to fully dry up to date.
One of the residents, Kemmonye Ramogerita believes that the Estate Construction Company should have long covered the trench and others to prevent such a tragedy as have happened.
'The deep trenches are life threatening, no matter how much we warn our children, kids will always be kids,' Ramogerita said.
Didimalang Ratlhageng, 40, said for a long time, the deep trenches have caused injuries to people.
'Some of these deep trenches are near bars, we understand the aim is to bring developments, but the trenches are extremely dangerous to our lives,' she said.
Other concerned residents advised that danger tapes be placed around every trench in the village to prevent accidents and injuries.
Another resident, Ally Tsiababa said she had always seen the deep trenches as a death trap.
'The trenches should be marked with and rounded with danger tapes, so that people not paying attention do not fall into them. Right now an innocent child has died,' Tsiababa cried.
Senior Public Relations and Liaison Officer for Estate Construction Company, Mike Mothibi told The Midweek Sun that the incident has come as a great shock and they are devastated because they have worked in Kanye for seven years and it is the first time to ever experience a fatal incident. Mothibi, however admitted that they have in the past received reports of injuries but that it is the first time a life has been lost.
'The fact that we have managed to work for seven years in a built-up area like Kanye without experiencing anything like this has really traumatised us,' he said.
Mothibi said the company is preparing for the child's burial and dealing with the agony of losing a child.
Asked how they notify the community about the deep trenches, he said they usually put yellow barricades and do community outreaches to sensetise communities so as to manage safety issues.
'The main challenge is that people vandalise and remove the barricades,' Mothibi said. He however said the matter is still under investigation.
Confirming the incident, Kanye Police Station Commander, Superintendent Vincent Pitseetsile said they received a report about the incident and investigations on the issue are ongoing.