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A family seeks answers after a devastating Vaal River tragedy claims a teen’s life
The Vaal River has always been a place of escape for families across the Vaal Triangle. Weekends mean boats on the water, music drifting across the banks, and teenagers chasing the last moments of summer. This week, that familiar setting became the backdrop to heartbreak.
The body of 17-year-old Thomas Sithole was recovered from the river after he went missing during a boating outing. As his family grieves, a statement released by the skipper of the boat has added another layer to a story already heavy with emotion.
A statement in the middle of grief
The skipper, whose identity is known to local authorities, released a formal statement through his attorney after what he described as false claims began circulating on social media. In the message, he expressed condolences to the Sithole family and stressed the shared community ties that bind families across the Vaal Triangle.
According to the statement, the skipper is licensed, experienced and followed all required inland water safety protocols on the day Thomas disappeared. He has also committed to cooperating fully with the police and the South African Maritime Safety Authority.
What is known about the day
Thomas had joined friends on a leisure boat trip on Friday afternoon. They launched around early afternoon and later stopped at a popular riverside restaurant, where passengers got off to buy food while the skipper remained on board. A jet ski operated by another skipper travelled alongside the boat.
Later that afternoon, as the group headed back toward the launch site, both the boat and jet ski stopped briefly so passengers could swap places. It was shortly after this pause that Thomas was noticed missing.
A headcount confirmed he was no longer on board. None of the passengers reported seeing him leave the boat, and he was last seen sitting at the back. An immediate search began on the water and along the shoreline. Within half an hour, the skipper contacted the South African Police Service water wing, and the incident was formally reported at Vanderbijlpark SAPS.
Two days of waiting on the riverbank
For two days, the riverbank became a place of quiet agony. Family members, friends, and community members gathered while divers searched the water. When Thomas’s body surfaced downstream near where relatives had been camped, the moment was devastating. A cry broke the stillness as his body was taken away by forensic services.
Relatives were allowed to view him, and family members have since raised concerns after noticing what appeared to be an injury to the back of his head. These details are now part of an ongoing investigation.
Remembering a gentle presence
Those who knew Thomas describe him as calm, caring, and quietly supportive. His sister spoke of a brother who always encouraged her to breathe and slow down when life felt overwhelming. Friends remember a teenager full of warmth, humour, and big plans for the future.
A family friend shared how deeply the loss has affected her own child, describing Thomas as a young person who brought energy and kindness into every space he entered.
Social media noise and a call for restraint
As news of the tragedy spread, social media filled with speculation and accusations. The skipper’s legal team has urged the public to pause, warning that uninformed commentary can cause further harm to grieving families and complicate an active investigation.
In small communities like Sedibeng, rumours travel fast. But so does empathy. Many locals have also used social platforms to call for respect, patience, and space for the family to mourn.
Searching for answers, not rumours
The Sithole family has been clear about one thing. They want answers. They are seeking clarity on how a young life was lost during what should have been a safe afternoon on the river.
As the investigation continues, the Vaal River flows on, unchanged in appearance but forever altered for those left behind. For one family, it is no longer just a place of leisure. It is where a son, a brother, and a friend was last seen alive.
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Central News South Africa
