Mr Mpho Alfred Mulele was unemployed, but it did not prevent him to make a meaningful life for himself and those close to him.
Daily the 31-year-old unmarried man from Itsani would venture to a local village dam and fish. He would use some for himself and sell the rest to the community.
On New Year's day he went to the dam as usual with a friend. It is alleged that he went into the waters and launched his self-made boat. During the second attempt to do this he apparently ran into some problems and the boat sank. Mulele disappeared under the water and he drowned.
News about the drowning hit the village and neighbouring villages in an instant via social media. Within a very short space of time the dam was swarming with curious onlookers. The dam is believed to have swallowed more than ten people in recent times through drownings. It is also alleged that some of the victims were killed somewhere else and dumped in the deep waters.
The latest drowning has been widely condemned by members of the community who blame government for not doing enough to deny people access to the dam. Apostle Ramudzuli Albert Lehangwa, who was at the dam to comfort the family, said the dam served no purpose in the community and that it should be fenced off. "So many lives are said to have been lost in this dam and we are worried that government is still mining soil from the dam, without even considering the safety of the community. Many children risk their lives swimming in these dangerous waters and the worst is still to come if nothing is done here," he said.
Local civic leader, Mr Job Ramawa said that they have deliberated about safety at the dam during meetings at the Tshisahulu Royal Council. "A prospective developer will soon take over the area for use as a resort and we will expedite this, so that the area could be secured to avert such nasty incidents," he said.
Mutele's sister, Ms Ornica Singo said she last spoke to her brother on New Year's eve in church. "He was in good spirits and I was very shocked to receive the bad news this morning. He was very close to us as our brother and served as a father and mother to us. He left a big void in our hearts and we are really in pain," she said.
Thohoyandou police spokesperson Major Mashudu Malelo confirmed the incident. "We have opened an inquest docket and we are appealing to residents not to venture into deep waters, either for fishing or swimming, as there are dangers of drowning and being attacked by water animals like crocodiles and hippos," he said.