In a heart-wrenching incident in Khutsong, two-year-old Ntsika Lithalam Nkatshumana drowned after falling into an open manhole that had reportedly been uncovered for about a decade.
**A mother’s worst nightmare comes true**
On Sunday, 28 September 2025, Ntsika lost his life near a reservoir when he fell into the uncovered manhole while playing with a friend. His mother, Zimasa Nkatshumana, had gone to the shops with him and his playmate, and later left the children together while she attended a nearby gathering. When she was alerted by another child that something was wrong, she rushed back only to find that Ntsika had already been pulled from the manhole. She recalled placing him against her chest and realizing too late that he had passed away.
**Community outcry over negligence**
Residents and local activists claim that the manhole had been left unsecured for nearly ten years, despite repeated complaints to municipal authorities. Community activist Chuku Keireleng described the infrastructure as dangerous and blamed the municipality for failing to repair or fence off the hazard. According to him, this was not the first incident of someone falling into the hole.
**Municipal response and investigation**
Ward Councillor Ernest Tibane asserted that municipal officials were unaware the lid had been left open and said an investigation was underway. He claimed that an iron lid had been placed over the manhole and denied prior knowledge of its dangerous state.
**Remembering Ntsika**
Zimasa described her little boy as friendly, loving, and always greeting people—especially the elderly. For her, this was a preventable loss, and she is demanding the municipality take full responsibility, from burying her son to compensating for his life cut short.
This tragedy reignites critical questions about community safety, municipal accountability, and how long glaring hazards remain unaddressed.