The principal of Archie Mbolekwa Primary School in Grahamstown said he was not ready to speak about a pupil who went missing during a school outing at Kenton-on-Sea last weekend.
The principal of Archie Mbolekwa Primary School in Grahamstown said he was not ready to speak about a pupil who went missing during a school outing at Kenton-on-Sea last weekend.
Like most, Zola Motlabane believes the child, who disappeared in the waves near the Kariega river mouth a week ago, has drowned.
Motlabane told Grocott's Mail yesterday that he was still in pain over the incident and could not offer any further comment.
Meanwhile, against all odds, the family of the girl, whose name is known to Grocott's Mail, has not given up hope that she could still return alive. When Grocott's Mail arrived at the family's home in Vukani on Tuesday this week, relatives had gathered there.
More people arrived as the afternoon progressed. A person close to the family told Grocott's Mail they remained hopeful that the young girl could still be found alive. The woman refused to be interviewed, however. She said she and the family would consider speaking only when the child is found.
A search by police divers for the body of the little girl followed a massive rescue operation involving the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), police, traffic police, nature conservation staff and emergency medical teams on Friday 7 November. The search continues.
The child was among a group of around 60 pupils from Archie Mbolekwa Primary School. She went missing in the surf near the Kariega river mouth after trying to rescue a fellow pupil who had got into difficulty. Sea Rescue Communications Officer Craig Lambinon said in a media statement last Friday afternoon that NSRI Port Alfred duty crew, EC Government Health Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the SA Police Services, Traffic Services and Nature Conservation officers had responded to a call at 12.03pm that Friday.
In the initial statement Lambinon mistakenly referred to the missing pupil as a boy, but the police and the pupil's family have confirmed she is a girl. Lambinon said NSRI Port Alfred volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a drowning in progress in Kenton-On-Sea at Kenton Main Beach, alongside the Kariega River Mouth.
"On arrival on the scene it was found that a female learner, aged 11, had gotten into difficulty in rip currents and a fellow [female]learner also aged 11, had reportedly gone into the surf to try to assist her," he said.
Lambinon said unidentified bystanders had then assisted the female pupil from the water but the pupil that tried to assist her was missing in the surf.
In the statement he said the surviving girl was treated by EMS paramedics and had been transported to hospital in a serious but stable condition for further treatment and for observation for secondary drowning symptoms.
Port Alfred police spokesperson Lieutenant Luvuyo Mjekula said the little girl's body had not been found by late yesterday. Mjekula said the search for the little girl was still under way.
"The K9 Unit is leading the search, but we have not found her yet," he said.
