WHILE hundreds of flood victims are trying to pick up the pieces, the Masango family - who lost their two daughters - believe their lives could have been saved.
Sindisiwe Masango, 21, and her younger sister Sithembile, 16, drowned in a fast-flowing stream of the Ngcaka River, the level of which rose rapidly due to heavy rains.
The two sisters drowned when they were returning home from the neighbours in Utrecht, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Khawulani Masango said his daughters' lives could have been saved had there been a bridge over the river.
He said he did not wish anyone to go through the pain his family felt when their daughters died prematurely.
"Their mother asked them to bring something across but they did not return home and we thought they were sleeping at a neighbours home because of the rain," Masango said.
We were shocked to learn the next day that my children were not there. Instead we found Sithembile's shoe along the river and when we looked further we discovered her body stuck in a trees,"
He said it took the family more than four days to find Sindisiwe's body about 200 kilometres further on.
"We want government to help us with the construction of a bridge," he said.
Sindisiwe was a student at Amajuba FET College and her family was counting on her.
She left a four-year-old daughter Philasande.
There are no amenities in the area and no access to medical healthcare. The only school caters for all grades.
"We even battle to get a cellphone network," Masango said. "My nephew and could not get medical attention. His arm has had to heal itself."
Amajuba mayor Mkhulu Mlangeni said they would do everything in their power to help the community to build a bridge .
"We will also engage with the department of transport. The situation is bad and there is a need for immediate intervention."
Two girls drown due to lack of bridge
WHILE hundreds of flood victims are trying to pick up the pieces, the Masango family - who lost their two daughters - believe their lives could have been saved.
Sindisiwe Masango, 21, and her younger sister Sithembile, 16, drowned in a fast-flowing stream of the Ngcaka River, the level of which rose rapidly due to heavy rains.
The two sisters drowned when they were returning home from the neighbours in Utrecht, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Khawulani Masango said his daughters' lives could have been saved had there been a bridge over the river.
He said he did not wish anyone to go through the pain his family felt when their daughters died prematurely.
"Their mother asked them to bring something across but they did not return home and we thought they were sleeping at a neighbours home because of the rain," Masango said.
We were shocked to learn the next day that my children were not there. Instead we found Sithembile's shoe along the river and when we looked further we discovered her body stuck in a trees,"
He said it took the family more than four days to find Sindisiwe's body about 200 kilometres further on.
"We want government to help us with the construction of a bridge," he said.
Sindisiwe was a student at Amajuba FET College and her family was counting on her.
She left a four-year-old daughter Philasande.
There are no amenities in the area and no access to medical healthcare. The only school caters for all grades.
"We even battle to get a cellphone network," Masango said. "My nephew and could not get medical attention. His arm has had to heal itself."
Amajuba mayor Mkhulu Mlangeni said they would do everything in their power to help the community to build a bridge .
"We will also engage with the department of transport. The situation is bad and there is a need for immediate intervention."
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