This morning, Wednesday 2 December 2020, Herman Mashaba, President of Action visited the bereaved families of the three boys who drowned in a waterlogged storm water trench in Hammanskraal.

Following the meeting, the families, citing ActionSA’s involvement in the Lily Mine matter on behalf of the families, asked us to do likewise and represent their interests against the City of Tshwane.

The families of Samuel Maphoso, 10, Kutlwano Mkhwanazi, 9, Tshepo Machete, 10, who drowned last Saturday, believe that the City of Tshwane and the contractor’s negligence in securing the storm water trench should be held directly liable for the deaths of their children, and should be criminally charged as well as have civil claims lodged against them.

What is even more troubling is that the implicated “contractor” engaged to secure the storm water trench is unknown.

Here, the City must explain how it is possible that the services of an unknown contractor can be procured. If this is not an act of gross negligence, then I do not know what is.

South Africa, we cannot continue to allow these tragedies to continue to befall our children and our families while the people we elect to represent our interests in public service continue to disappoint us, and take our people for granted.

It is for this reason that ActionSA has accepted the bereaved families’ plea to take up the case and hold the City of Tshwane and the contractor accountable for the deaths of the three minors.

ActionSA will engage the services of our legal team and take this matter forward.

We thank the families for putting their trust in us at this most difficult time.