Two brothers drowned in Rooskraal dam just off the Vaal river while they were out fishing with their family, North West police said on Monday.
The two brothers, aged 11 and 12 years old were accompanied by their parents and another family on a fishing excursion to the dam on Sunday morning, said police spokesperson Warrant Officer Sam Tselanyane.
He said the boys went into the water at about 08:30.
“Seemingly while they were there they wanted to throw their nets into the river and they decided to take their nets deeper into the water using a canoe that they had found. They were not far into the water when the canoe capsized and they drowned.
“Their dad’s colleague jumped into the water to try and rescue them when they screamed…he could not reach them and they drowned,” he said.
A man in a canoe came to try and help but could not reach the place the boys had entered the water, said Tselanyane.
Meanwhile police divers were called and they searched for the bodies. The body of one boy was recovered at just after 17:00 and the second was recovered eight minutes later, he said.
They were both certified dead on the scene.
Police have opened an inquest docket.
– SAPA
