The family of a 16-year-old boy who drowned while in Durban to attend the African National Congress (ANC) election manifesto launch at the Moses Mabhida Stadium says they do not regret taking him to the event. Sfundo Shezi from Welbedach, outside Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, attended the event with his father Lucas Shezi but they travelled in different buses.

Sfundo who was a grade 10 learner at the Welbedene Secondary School. He drowned before Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his speech after he and a few of his friends decided to go swim at the beach. His father was alerted about the drowning by the friends after they failed to help him out of the water. Shezi told ZiMoja that he was informed in the afternoon that his son was swept away in the Durban South Beach and reported the matter on the same day and the search for his body resumed.

Shezi, a staunch member of the ANC, says he doesn't regret allowing son to attend the manifesto. "No one was forced to attend it, he decided to come to the manifesto because of his love of the ANC. Nobody knew that Sfundo will lose his life. I can only look back and say if I could turn back the hands of time," he said. He said he has heard people blaming the ruling party for his son's misfortune but said no one can dictate God's will. "I guess it was his time and there is nothing I could have done about it. We have to accept God's will and give him a good send off," he said. Sfundo's body was found on Monday evening after two days of searching by the search and rescue teams.