PASTOR Thomas Mulaudzi's eyes widened when a neighbour gave him his grandson's brown corduroy pants a day after his body was found on the banks of a river in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg.
Wrapped in a newspaper, the pants were found on the banks of the Kliprivier, metres from where the body of 11-year-old Thabo Mphidi was found.
"I am still amazed. Three little bodies," was all Mulaudzi could manage to say while Thabo's mother, Rudzani Mphidi, cried.
A day after his grandson's body was found, Mulaudzi said he was amazed that Thabo's friend, Peter Mawatsa, 12, had also died.
"Why did he go back to the river after telling us what had happened to Thabo? It amazes me. My heart is aching," Mulaudzi said.
He said Peter ran to the family's home in Slovo Park and told them that Thabo had fallen into the river and "disappeared".
"We left what we were doing and rushed to the river to find Thabo. He was still alive when we found him. A man we did not know was trying to resuscitate him," he said.
Peter's and Thato Mpheng's bodies were recovered from the river yesterday. The three friends left home on Tuesday afternoon after school. Peter's brother Mpho said his little brother could have died trying to save his two friends.
"Maybe he was frustrated that no one had had tried to save them. His shoes were found on the river bank. He must have taken them off before jumping into the water," Mpho said.
Thato Mpheng's mother Florence said she was puzzled that the boys' bodies were found apart.
"They were always together," Mpheng said.
She said her husband Elliot found Thato's body yesterday morning after a night of searching.
"We hardly slept. His father did not go to work, instead he went looking for him again. Less than an hour later he called and said he had found his body under a bridge. I told him not to move him," said the distraught mother.
Ward councillor Kevin Wax said there was "speculation" that the boys were also electrocuted because of an electric cable that runs through the river.
City Power spokesperson Louis Pieterse could not be reached for comment. An inquest docket has been opened.
Three young friends drown in Joburg river
PASTOR Thomas Mulaudzi's eyes widened when a neighbour gave him his grandson's brown corduroy pants a day after his body was found on the banks of a river in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg.
Wrapped in a newspaper, the pants were found on the banks of the Kliprivier, metres from where the body of 11-year-old Thabo Mphidi was found.
"I am still amazed. Three little bodies," was all Mulaudzi could manage to say while Thabo's mother, Rudzani Mphidi, cried.
A day after his grandson's body was found, Mulaudzi said he was amazed that Thabo's friend, Peter Mawatsa, 12, had also died.
"Why did he go back to the river after telling us what had happened to Thabo? It amazes me. My heart is aching," Mulaudzi said.
He said Peter ran to the family's home in Slovo Park and told them that Thabo had fallen into the river and "disappeared".
"We left what we were doing and rushed to the river to find Thabo. He was still alive when we found him. A man we did not know was trying to resuscitate him," he said.
Peter's and Thato Mpheng's bodies were recovered from the river yesterday. The three friends left home on Tuesday afternoon after school. Peter's brother Mpho said his little brother could have died trying to save his two friends.
"Maybe he was frustrated that no one had had tried to save them. His shoes were found on the river bank. He must have taken them off before jumping into the water," Mpho said.
Thato Mpheng's mother Florence said she was puzzled that the boys' bodies were found apart.
"They were always together," Mpheng said.
She said her husband Elliot found Thato's body yesterday morning after a night of searching.
"We hardly slept. His father did not go to work, instead he went looking for him again. Less than an hour later he called and said he had found his body under a bridge. I told him not to move him," said the distraught mother.
Ward councillor Kevin Wax said there was "speculation" that the boys were also electrocuted because of an electric cable that runs through the river.
City Power spokesperson Louis Pieterse could not be reached for comment. An inquest docket has been opened.
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