Family mourns teen son who drowned at pool with no lifeguards on duty

15-year-old Thembi Nkosi and his friends cycled to Karen Muir Swimming Pool seeking relief from the scorching October heat
The group climbed over a devil's fork fence using a rubbish drum, and there were no lifeguards, no supervision, and locked gates
When emergency crews arrived, they faced the same barrier the boys had, as they were forced to scale the wall themselves to reach the scene

A teenager's effort to cool down on a sweltering afternoon ended in heartbreak on 17 October, when 15-year-old Thembi Nkosi drowned at Karen Muir Swimming Pool in Kimberley, Northern Cape.

Teenager's death at Kimberley swimming pool moves South Africa — A teenager's death at a Kimberley swimming pool moved South Africa. Image: Pavel Danilyuk
Source: UGC

Thembi and a group of friends had cycled from Club 2000 in Galeshewe into town, hoping to find relief from the heat. When they arrived to find the gates padlocked, the boys scaled the wall and climbed over the facility's devil's fork fencing to get inside. His friends later described how, despite being able to swim, Thembi suddenly disappeared beneath the surface and did not come back up, even as they scrambled desperately to help him.

The discovery of the teen's body and the subsequent emergency response drew sharp questions about how the facility was managed. Belgravia resident Christine Solomon, who said she was among the first on the scene, pointed to delays caused by the locked entrance. She asked:

"This resulted in undue delays when search and rescue teams arrived at the gate. Why was no one from access control on duty?"

SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Litabe confirmed that Kimberley police had opened an inquest docket. "All relevant role-players, including the SAPS, were summoned to the scene, where the victim was declared deceased by emergency medical services," he said, adding that no foul play was suspected and that investigations were continuing.

Thembi Noksi died in a pool that was officially shutdown — Thembi Noksi died in a pool that was officially shut down. Image: David McElwee
Source: UGC

Thembi Nkosi's family speaks

Thembi's family said they had no idea the pool was closed that day. They said:

"He told us that he was going swimming, but we had no idea that there would be no adult supervision or lifeguards on duty."

Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi offered condolences to the family, describing the loss as "distressing and deeply regrettable." He confirmed the pool was not operational at the time and would remain closed indefinitely, noting that public pools in Kimberley could currently only be booked for swimming galas, provided organisers supply their own lifeguards. The reason, he explained, was a severe shortage of qualified staff. Of all the municipality's lifeguards, only one held the required first-aid Level 3 certificate.

Mothibi said the municipality was working to address the gap urgently before the full summer season set in, though he acknowledged that 24-hour on-site security was not financially viable.

The footage from the scene, captured by the Diamond Fields Advertiser, stirred strong emotions online. Watch the emergency scene footage captured at Karen Muir Swimming Pool by clicking here; viewer discretion is advised

SA mourns death of teen

The response in the comments was divided. While some questioned how the boys gained entry, others urged restraint.

Joey Combrinck wrote:

"I am saddened by how harsh and judgmental some of the comments are. Perhaps we should remember our own childhoods. I am not condoning what happened, but let us remember that this was a child who may simply have seen it as a bit of fun, without understanding the consequences. Let us show compassion rather than condemnation."

Nana O ShaSah appealed for kindness:

"Please, people💔 our hearts are already broken. 💔 😭 Please don't say anything negative. 😭💔 Rest in peace auntie's child."

Victoria Erasmus added:

"He was such a lovable soul, bathong aww Thembi, why must you do this to us."

Family mourns teen son who drowned at pool with no lifeguards on duty

Thembi Nkosi's family speaks

SA mourns death of teen

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