‘I couldn’t sleep’: Kliptown residents relive boy’s last words before drowning

“Njabulo, Njabulo. Help, help!”

This was the desperate plea of a teenage boy just minutes after he slipped and fell into the Klipspruit stream while he trying to make his way across.

The teenager, assumed to be about 18, was swept away on Tuesday after he apparently tried to cross the stream from Klipspruit West to Kliptown, according to Johannesburg emergency management services (EMS) spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi.

His body was recovered on Wednesday morning by the Joburg EMS aquatic rescue unit and the police water wing.

“The body will be handed to the police for further investigation,” Mulaudzi confirmed.

TimesLIVE Premium visited the scene shortly after the teen's body was retrieved from the water. Stunned Kliptown residents gathered close to the stream as they recalled the boy's final moments.

He is yet to be identified.

Among those gathered were Kliptown residents Devandre Hackenburg and Kamogelo Lekala, who were among a group of four young boys who saw the teen shortly before his death.

According to the duo, he had stopped by the edge of the stream to ask them for a cigarette from the other side. He was wearing a maroon shirt and black construction work pants with reflectors.

The boys were cleaning up an area near the water that would be converted into a small park for locals.

“He came towards us and [loudly] asked for a cigarette. We told him we don't have one and that if he wants one, he must come across the bridge to our side. He insisted on crossing the river and jumped down the bank and got into the water. He then slipped and started drowning,” said Lekala.

Lekala said he rushed to get help and alerted Hackenburg’s father, Ghirodien Johnson, of the situation. During this time he tried to stay afloat but was unable to after a few minutes. 

He was also heard shouting, “Njabulo, Njabulo. Help, help!” — but no-one could help as they feared getting into the water. 

They then tried to go get a rope to pull the boy out, but it "was too late", according to the youngster.

None of the residents TimesLIVE Premium spoke to recognised the teen, who they suspected was not a local.

Johnson said they alerted authorities of the situation, who arrived after about an hour. 

Detailing the effect of witnessing the horrific incident, Johnson said: “To be honest, I couldn't sleep. It was hard [and] I even cried because I am a parent, so as a parent, seeing another child pass on like that, it's heartbreaking.”

Residents shared their relief at the recovery of his body after an agonising search but added it was still “heartsore” given the way he died.

They also shared the danger the stream itself posed, saying no children played nearby because “once you get in that water, you won't come back”.

Another resident Maria Chabangu said they were concerned about the lack of security around the stream, saying they must close off the area.

“There's nothing happening in this stream ... I think they can maybe seal it off to the community because it's close to the houses,” she said.

Gauteng police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo confirmed the recovery of the body and that an inquest has been opened “for further investigation”.