Mamelodi families whose two young boys drowned in quarry have received a settlement after the intervention of ActionSA which offered legal representation to deal with the matter.
However, a prompt visit to the area where the incident happened showed that the quarry was poorly fenced with some parts having gaping holes; there was flooding and the nearby shacks covered in water.
A resident Benny Mothupi said the quarry is still a risk to community members.
“We have had the incident where the children fell in the hole and when it rains there are floods. We don’t know where to go when it rains. We want to be moved to a safer area. We are losing children. We are worried that anyone could still fall victim to the quarry. It is devastating” said Mothupi.
A 25-year-old mother of one, Bonolo Mathebe raised safety concerns.
“Our lives and our children’s lives are in danger because of the quarry. We live here everyday and there are constant fears, especially because I live very close to the quarry,” Mathebe.
The party’s President, Herman Mashaba told the media about the agreement on Friday in Mamelodi, Tshwane but he said the parties involved agreed not to disclose the amount to protect the families of the victims.
The children – 4-year-old Lawrence Moore Tshwenu and 7-year-old Siyabonga Mabila from Skierlik Mountain View informal settlements drowned in an unfenced quarry full of water on 27 February 2021.
Mashaba said it has taken us 18-months and his legal team worked around the clock to ensure that the Gauteng provincial government was held accountable.
“At long last the family signed to accept the settlement that they were offered because it wasn’t up to us to accept. Obviously one of the conditions of the settlement was that the government requested us not to disclose the amount which is not an issue because we don’t want to compromise the families.
“We have actually offered the families professional financial people to assist them to ensure that this money is not lost to loan sharks and hyenas,” said Mashaba.
Families spokesperson, Dion Moore said the money will not bring back the children but those responsible must be criminally charged as well.
“The most important thing is for the family to find justice and move from this. Whatever money they gave is not a big issue. We want criminal charges as well because they have to take responsibility for their actions.
“If you look at the manhole they made, there is a house in the water. So they are still relaxed. I think something harder must come so they can take responsibility because they can give money for nothing. But there must be criminal charges where they have to pay for what is happening,” said Moore.
Moore said the family relocated a couple of months after the ordeal due to trauma and because the place reminded them of their children.
