An Eastern Cape mother is demanding answers and accountability after her four-year-old son died after falling into a disused municipal sewage pit in Alexandria, a tragedy that has left a family grieving and a community questioning why the hazardous site remained unsecured for years.
Nakhane Rafani, 4, from Nonkqubela Township in Alexandria, died after falling into a sewage pit facility on Takuta Street last week. According to his family, the young boy had been playing with other children when the incident occurred.
His body was recovered several hours later following a frantic search by community members.
Now, his mother, Anelisiwe Rafani, says she is struggling to come to terms with the devastating loss of her only child and believes the tragedy could have been prevented.
Speaking to News24, the 24-year-old mother described the emotional trauma she has endured since witnessing the recovery of her son's body.
“I cannot sleep at night. That scene left me traumatised. It is still haunting me,” she said.
“It’s like I am in a dream and someone would wake me up and tell me that my son is alive. He did not deserve to die like this."
The tragedy unfolded last Tuesday when Nakhane left home to play with other children in the area, something that was part of his normal daily routine.
According to Rafani, concern began to grow when her son failed to return home later that afternoon.
As the hours passed, family members and residents launched a search effort in an attempt to locate the missing child.
The breakthrough came when one of the children who had been playing with Nakhane pointed community members towards the sewage pit where he had last been seen.
The search party subsequently discovered the child's body inside the disused facility.
For Rafani, the grief has been overwhelming.
“This was my only child,” she said.
Beyond mourning her son, she is also demanding accountability from the Ndlambe Local Municipality, which she believes failed to secure the dangerous site despite the obvious risks it posed to residents, particularly children.
“If they had closed this sewage pit, my son would still be alive. The municipality only came to close the sewage pit after the incident. That’s not enough. They must account for why it was not closed after all these years,” Rafani said.
Her concerns have been echoed by members of the community and children's rights advocates, who have questioned why the abandoned infrastructure remained accessible.
Children’s rights activist Petros Majola condemned the incident and called on municipal authorities to ensure the abandoned pit is permanently closed to prevent another tragedy.
The incident has also drawn attention to broader concerns around public safety and the maintenance of municipal infrastructure in communities across the country.
Residents have raised concerns that disused facilities, abandoned structures and unsecured municipal sites often pose serious dangers, particularly to young children who may not fully understand the risks.
Following the incident, police opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child's death.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that an inquest docket had been opened.
She said emergency medical personnel responded to the scene after the child's body was recovered.
According to Gantana, medical personnel examined the boy and certified him dead at the scene.
She added that investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
While police continue their investigation, the Ndlambe Local Municipality says it has been engaging with both the affected family and community members.
In a statement, the municipality said municipal management conducted an immediate site visit after concerns were raised by residents following the tragedy.
“Following the engagement with residents, the municipal management conducted an immediate site visit to assess the concerns raised by the community. Discussions focused on matters relating to security measures and the fencing of the sewer pump station,” the municipality said.
The municipality also confirmed that representatives visited the Rafani family to offer condolences and support following the death of the young boy.
“The municipal delegation also visited the family to convey condolences and support during this painful time.”
However, the municipality indicated that it would not be commenting extensively on the matter while investigations remain under way.
“The matter is currently under police investigation and, as such, the municipality is not in a position to provide further comment while investigations are under way. The municipality and the family have agreed to maintain continuous engagement regarding this matter,” the municipality added.
The municipality's acknowledgement that discussions have taken place regarding security measures and fencing has done little to ease the pain felt by Nakhane's family, who believe those steps should have been taken long ago.
For residents of Nonkqubela Township, the death of the four-year-old has become a painful reminder of the dangers posed by neglected infrastructure and the consequences that can follow when safety concerns are not addressed promptly.
As investigations continue, Rafani remains focused on ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.
While no legal findings have yet been made, she insists that questions must be answered about why the sewage pit remained accessible for years and why action was only taken after a young life was lost.
For a grieving mother trying to navigate life without her only child, those answers cannot come soon enough.
As the community mourns Nakhane Rafani, many residents hope the tragedy will lead to lasting changes that improve safety measures and prevent other families from experiencing a similar loss.
