Community members are grappling with a shocking incident in which a three-year-old toddler drowned in a pit toilet and died at a preschool in East London.
The incident occurred on 18 April 2023 at Little Champions Day Care Centre in the township of Mdantsane in East London, Eastern Cape.
How The Three-Year-Old Toddler Drowned In A Pit Toilet At Preschool
The day had started normally for the prescholar, Unecebo Mboteni. The boy left the classroom to go and relieve himself in the pit latrine at the nursery. People had not noticed that he had left class and headed to the toilet.
Moments later, Unecebo stumbled and plunged into the filthy pit toilet, letting out a frightened shriek. His teacher heard him and, after noticing that he was missing class, rushed with others to check the noise in the loo.
They found the hapless boy deep inside the toilet, struggling to breathe. The staff rescued the three-year-old boy, who was still alive and rushed him to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital. Sadly, the hospital could not save the little soul from the injuries he sustained after drowning, and Unecebo died on 19 April.
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Government Officials And Community Leaders Mourn Little Unecebo
Three-Year-Old Toddler Drowned In A Pit Toilet At Preschool In East London [Image: eNCA]
The Khula Community Development Project director, Petros Majola, lamented the archaic tragedy:
“It is a sad moment not only for the family but for the nation. In 2024, we have lost another life due to improper infrastructure for public schools. Someone has failed, and an investigation will determine why pit latrines are still being used at the school.”
Yesterday, the MEC for education in the Eastern Cape, Fundile Gade, expressed sorrow over the death of the toddler:
“This is not only devastating to the family and the centre management but to the entire Eastern Cape community.”
The department also sent officials to provide psychosocial support services to the people at Little Champions Day Care Centre who are traumatised by the tragedy. Gade added that they would guide the preschool to follow government guidelines promoting children’s safety.
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