Dangerous dam emerges near homes

LOMAHASHA – A dam has just emerged!

For years until three weeks back, it was simply a dusty playground where young boys gathered every afternoon to chase football.

From late afternoon till dusk, after assisting with errands, locals said the boys’ laughter echoed across the flat, open ground as they chased soccer balls and forgot about chores and homework.

To rescue the situation, the community has approached a Chinese contractor currently working on the Lomahasha-Namaacha Water Pipeline project in hopes that they could assist with draining the reservoir.

Today, the same space stands as a symbol of fear, as what was once a forgotten inkelebha has suddenly transformed into a deep and swelling water body, sending shivers down the spines of an entire community.

The reservoir, long synonymous with a recreational space for local children, has re-emerged with alarming force after recent heavy rains, leaving residents shocked and anxious.

However, in Lomahasha, this particular earth dam lies at the heart of what residents casually refer to as their central business centre, surrounded by homes, shops and daily human movement.

Even to an untrained eye, the sudden emergence of a vast pool of water is impossible to ignore.

What was once a flat football pitch has become a deep and expansive body of water, dominating the landscape and transforming daily life for nearby residents where dusty wooden goalposts once stood proudly, small frogs now pop up from murky waters, while boys who once played there have become spectators on the sidelines, struggling to comprehend how nature has swallowed their beloved playground.

Many now watch in disbelief as the water body, which has indirectly created a dangerous temptation for swimming, looms as a silent threat.

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