“Tragic Death of Five-Year-Old in Ndwedwe Cattle Dip Pit”

Ntapuka, Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal – A five-year-old girl was found dead in a cattle dip pit on Friday, August 22, 2025, in a devastating incident that has left the community of Ntapuka in mourning. Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) retrieved the child’s lifeless body after a frantic search effort.

According to RUSA, their Operations Centre received a distress call at approximately 15:07 from a resident reporting that the girl had been missing since 12:00. She was last seen playing near the communal cattle dip pit with two friends. Community members launched an immediate search, draining half of the chemical mixture from the pit in a desperate attempt to find her, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

A team of RUSA Reaction Officers and paramedics was dispatched to the scene. Due to the rough terrain, responders had to abandon their vehicles nearly one kilometre away and proceed on foot. Upon arrival, RUSA officers entered the pit and recovered the child’s body, which was submerged in the toxic water. She was declared deceased at the scene.

Family members explained that the pit, constructed by the community, contains a mixture of chemicals and pesticides used for dipping cattle to control parasites. It is a regularly utilized facility for local livestock maintenance. It is alleged that the girl, accompanied by her two friends, ventured near the pit and descended the stairs leading into it. For reasons yet to be determined, she was unable to climb back to safety. Her friends alerted nearby residents, triggering the urgent search.

The circumstances of whether the child slipped accidentally or faced other difficulties remain unclear. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.

The tragedy has prompted calls from the community for enhanced safety measures, such as barriers or protective covers, to prevent future incidents at the communal pit.