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Seven of the eight people who drowned in Steynsrus in the Free State were children
Eight people have drowned in Steynsrus in the Free State after a vehicle was washed away by a river.
Seven of those who drowned were children and the eighth victim was a man who returned to the river in an attempt to save them, said police spokesman Brigadier Motantsi Makhele.
“It is alleged that on Sunday … around 10:52 a.m., the Steynsrus police received a report about a white Honda Ballade that was washed away by a river on a farm,” Makhele said.
According to information received by the police, the driver of the vehicle, Tshokolo Hlongwane, 26, two men, Mohau Mokoena and Swartbooi Hlongwane, four boys and three girls were in the vehicle.
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“The two men and the driver managed to get out of the vehicle and escape, but the driver went back into the water to try to prevent the children from drowning and was also washed away,” Makhele said.
Police were still searching for the body of one of the children, 7-year-old Karabo Kok.
The children have been identified as Thapelo Tekanya, four, Mojalefa Mosibi, 12, Bokamoso Maphakisa, eight, Ntaoleng Mpeko, 13, Relebohile Mpeko, nine, and Hopolang Monyatsi, six.
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