Media Release: Drowning Incident On Friday 13 June 2008 a tragic and very unfortunate incident occurred at the Sewage Works when two young children drowned in the Oxidation Ponds at the Sewage Works. It is with sorrow that we have learnt about the loss of 2 young lives at our Sewerage Plant, Rudi Klaase 5 and Dino Swartbooi 6. Initial reports indicate that three young boys under the age of 5 years were seen at the entrance to the Sewage Works earlier that morning and they were chased away by some of our staff. It later transpired that two of the young boys have drowned and the matter was reported to the Namibian Police who dealt with the matter further. Apart from the question why these small kids were allowed to wander around town on their own, the most important question is what can be done to prevent a similar occurrence. In this instance it seems that the boys gained entrance to the site via the vehicular entrance. It should be noted that it is possible to also gain access to the site by climbing over the boundary wall of the Works. The Department of Engineering Services has arranged for a security guard to be on site during working hours with the main task to man the vehicular entrance, but it is not the solution as the site is very big and one guard will not be able to effectively guard the whole site against unlawful entrances. The cost amounts to N$135.00 per day or N$3 000.00 per month. During a Special Management Committee it was agreed that the entrance gate be closed all times and that staff should be alert not to allow any unauthorised person on the premises. In addition warning signs have been placed around the premises to caution public members, however it will not be effective in the case of small children who cannot read yet or illiterate people.
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