What was meant to be a carefree day’s play for two inseparable Langkloof children ended in tragedy on Monday when the young friends drowned in a filthy sewage canal in the rural hamlet of Louterwater‚ about 35km west of Joubertina.

Best friends Jaydene Makonie‚ 7‚ and Patriano Botha‚ 6‚ both of Rondomskrik‚ drowned soon after they went to play at a municipal sewage works site at about 11.30am.

Botha’s body was pulled from the deep pit by one of the two children’s parents about 45 minutes later‚ while police search-and-rescue divers recovered Makonie’s body after 3pm.

The children lived in the same street‚ just three houses from one another.

They went to neighbouring schools‚ with Makonie a Grade 1 pupil at Louterwater Primary‚ and Botha attending the Louterwater Pre-primary next door.

Compounding the tragedy‚ Makonie’s death was the result of a total misunderstanding between the little girl and her friend‚ according to shocked family and residents gathered at the scene. — The Herald