The number of the people who continue to drown at the infamous Nseleni Quarry Dam continues to rise as more people keep dying in it. The community of Nseleni, in the north of KwaZulu Natal, shocked many people when they turned a quarry dam into a "public swimming pool" and started hosting parties at the start of the year. The infamous Nseleni quarry has been named as Mayeni Dam by the locals who go there.

DAM OF DEATH

This has seen small business people from the north coast taking advantage of the situation and selling food and alcohol at the dam while local artists and partygoers have turned it into a vibing spot. What is evident is that the locals are not fearful of this dam, which has become to be known as the dam of death.Some people in the area, who spoke to ZiMoja, said that they believe that there might be a big snake under the water which keeps killing people, to which there is no evidence.

BOOKINGS

Deejay Trapezium, who has scored bookings at the dam since it was opened, confirmed deejaying at the dam but said he has never swam at the quarry. "I have been booked to play with some of the deejays in the north coast but I have never swam in it. I go there and do my thing and leave. I have never witnessed people drowning but there are people who have drowned in it as it is deep and the water there is scary. You enter at your own risk as there are no proper safety measures. People are unruly when they are drunk," he said. Trapezium further said: "I'll never stop taking bookings from the dam because all the people that go there know the risks of swimming in the quarry dam. The dam was abandoned years ago before the locals saw it as a place to party and chill. We grew up here and I was shocked to see it opening for leisure."

DROWNINGS

In a recent incident the City of uMhlathuze Municipality confirmed the two incidents where a near-drowning and drowning  were reported at the Nseleni infamous quarry dam. A male in his early 30s nearly drowned  on Sunday evening when he was assisted by community members, who rushed him to Nseleni Clinic but he later died. A 47-year-old male also drowned on the same evening of Sunday and rescue services managed to retrieve the body on Monday morning at 9am. Mayor Xolani Ngwezi sent his condolences to the two bereaved families and continued to warn community members from swimming at the infamous Nseleni quarry dam because it is not designated for swimming.

WATER NOT SAFE

Ngwezi advised residents of Nseleni to make use of the Nseleni swimming pool, Aquadene and Brackenham swimming pools as well as Alkanstraad beach in Meerensee which are official areas that are safeguarded and designated for swimming. "Results of samples proved that water in that dam is not safe for swimming and may harm those who deem that there in an unnecessary health risk and health hazard at the dam. This matter is still being handled by Dapartment of Minerals and Energy and the owner of the dam." The number of people who have drowned in the quarry dam is now at 4 after the recent incidents and many fear the demise of many more.