A 14-YEAR-OLD girl drowned in Khami River at Nyamandlovu as she tried to save her brother who had fallen into the river.
Villagers identified her as Hlelo Sibanda, a Grade Six pupil at Sikhululeni Primary School.
They said she along with Carlton Dube, 12, and Philisani Sibanda, 9, all of Village 1 Seafield, under Chief Deli, left home last Friday to bath at Khami River.
A villager, Siphetha Ndlovu, said: “Hlelo was in Grade Six while the two boys were in Grade Four. As they were bathing, Carlton slipped and fell into the river where he almost drowned. Hlelo dived into the river and swam towards him, intending to save him, but unfortunately drowned herself”.
She said Carlton was then saved by Philisani.
“The two boys rushed home and told their older brother’s wife, Regina Tshuma that Sibanda had drowned. Tshuma quickly notified villagers and we rushed to the river but we couldn’t find her. We immediately reported the matter to the police who then retrieved the body,” Ndlovu said. State Media