Two teenage girls and a security guard who tried to save them all drowned in a dam at the Tygerberg Racecourse on Saturday.
Inseparable friends Mbali Swakamisi and Inam Sihobogela, both 13 and from Kraaifontein, had waded into the muddy dam, not realising how deep it was.
The 57-year-old security official at the racecourse saw the girls struggle and tried to rescue them, but tragically also lost his life in the process.
According to their families, the girls had been inseparable - in life and in death.
Mbali’s father, Walter Mani, 43, from Bloekombos, fainted when he arrived at the scene and saw his daughter’s remains in a body bag.
“They told me she was dead at the dam and I rushed there. I could not believe it was my daughter lying there. I passed out and woke up again sitting in the ambulance,” he says.
“She is my youngest daughter of three and I will never be able to forget it and I will never recover.
HORRID SCENE: Two teen girls and a Tygerberg Racecourse security guard, who tried saving them, drowned in a 10m-deep mud dam
“At least I know she was not alone. She was with her best friend. They were inseparable until death.
“Her mother and I are taking her to Bloemfontein to be buried at home.”
Walter says he is saddened by the death of the man who tried to save them as well.
Inam’s father, Khangelani, 45, arrived after his child’s body was removed from the water. He was distraught from the shock and unable to put his emotions into words.
“Some child came to me and said my daughter, Inam, is lying in the dam. When I came there, her body was already outside,” he says.
“She was in Grade 5 at Wallacedene Primary School and had just passed to a new class in 2019.”
Residents in the area say the dam was not supposed to be accessible to children.
The girls had apparently snuck onto the privately owned property over the fence around the 10m-deep dam.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, confirmed the incident.
“Inquest cases were opened for investigation after three people, aged 13 and 57, drowned on Saturday,” she said.