USUKHALELA ukuthola ithambo lelungu lawo umndeni womfana okuthiwe uminze ebhukuda nabangani bakhe eJabula Beach, eseSt Lucia, eMtubatuba, ngoMsombuluko ntambama.
UVela Msomi (14) waseKhula, ofunda ugrade 9 esikoleni samabanga aphakeme, iVikingozi, kuthiwa ubehamba nomakhelwane nezinye izingane besolwandle bebhekuda ngesikhathi kwehla le ngozi.
Uyise kaVela, uMnuz Bhekinkosi Fakude, uthe bavuka kuseluvivi ukuyocinga isidumbu sendodana yakhe kusuka ngoLwesibili kodwa kuze kube manje asikatholwa.
“Esesikukhalela ukuthi sithole isidumbu sakhe sikwazi ukusifihla. Silokhu siqale ukuzocinga kusukela ngoLwesibii ekuseni njengoba ingozi yenzeka ngoMsombuluko sekuntambama. Silekelwa abasebenza esiqiwini ukusicingisa ithambo lethu,” kusho uFakude.
Uthe umngani kaVela abebhukuda naye uthe bebebhukuda bonke okuthe uma evula amehlo emva kokushaywa yigagasi, wambona esephakathi kwezangoma nazo ebezisolwandle kwaba ukumuka kwakhe.
“Umngani wakhe uthe izangoma ngesikhathi zibona uVela emuka, zimtshele ukuthi akamthakazele amcele abuye, wamthakazela kodwa lutho ukubuya,” usho kanje.
Esitatimendeni esikhishwe abeSimangaliso Wetland Park, bathumele amazwi enduduzo emndenini.
“Isigameko sibikiwe emaphoyiseni. Ithimba labatshuzi besikhungo, i-National Sea Rescue Institute, bayaqhubeka nokucinga isidumbu njengoba singakatholakali,” kubhalwe esitatimendeni.
Okhulumela amaphoyisa KwaZulu-Natal, uColonel Thembeka Mbele, uthe ukufunwa kwesidumbu kuyaqhubeka.