Riot Hlatshwayo

Two fishermen were shocked to discover the body of a boy, thought to be about five years old, in a dam in Mpumalanga this week.

The men were fishing at the Mahlebe Dam a few kilometers from Tsakani village, near Acornhoek, when they saw the body floating next to the banks of the dam.

The men ran to the village and reported their find at the Acornhoek police station.

Police accompanied them back to the dam and removed the body with the help of mortuary personnel.

Constable Zanele Sibuyi said : "This is strange because the dam is far away from the village.

"We are investigating what led to the boy ending up in the water."

She said the young boy, whose body was in an advanced state of decomposition because of the water, was wearing a brown tartan shirt and black trousers with brown stripes.

Sibuyi, who had recently returned from leave, said she was not sure if the boy had been reported missing.

She asked anyone with information about the matter to contact their nearest police station.