Investigation Launched as 10-Year-Old Drowns at Dobsonville Pool with Lifeguards Present
- A 10-year-old boy tragically drowned at a Dobsonville pool while lifeguards were allegedly present
- The City of Johannesburg has since closed the swimming facility pending an internal investigation
- Social media users reacted with outrage and called for accountability regarding lifeguard safety protocols
Justin Williams, a journalist at Briefly News since 2024, covers South Africa’s current affairs. Before joining Briefly News, he served as a writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa’s South African chapter.
Source: Getty Images
GAUTENG, SOWETO - A 10-year-old boy drowned at a public swimming pool in Dobsonville, Soweto, allegedly while lifeguards were on duty. This prompted the City of Johannesburg to close the facility.
Drowning happened in front of lifeguards
The incident occurred on Sunday, 11 January 2026, during an outing with his father. Reports indicate the drowning happened in front of lifeguards stationed at the pool. City council speaker Margaret Arnolds visited the family on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, and said the municipality would conduct an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
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Arnolds said the City would assess the role of lifeguards on duty at the time and determine whether safety protocols were followed. She added that the pool would remain closed pending the outcome of the investigation. She also said that no police case had been opened yet.
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South Africans weigh in
Social media users shared their thoughts on the tragic drowning incident.
Zenande Mzolo said:
"Are they not supposed to be seated at a high position to be able to have a full view of everyone?"
Monyque Lien Dawu said:
"Nothing makes sense."
Charmaine Cnd said:
"Sad story. RIP, little one. Reminds me of my childhood and how I never set foot in “Jake” because my grandmother refused because of the fear that we would drown."
Anneke Smit said:
"Rotundus in Springs also had an incident a few years back, a black 15-year-old boy drowned, and they did not even have lifeguards, and no news or repremands were made. This is very sad, and this is a small resort with pools."
Seona Grobbelaar said:
"How on earth can this happen with lifeguards present? Overcrowding of the pool?"
Other drowning incidents
A search is underway for a 23-year-old man who went missing while swimming at Bluewater Bay in Gqeberha. Teams were activated shortly before 7 pm after reports of a drowning in progress. NSRI rescue swimmers were dispatched to the scene, and the rescue craft Eddie Beaumont II was launched. The South African Police Service, Eastern Cape Government Health EMS, and Relay ambulance services also responded, joining Coastal Water Rescue and Blue Water Bay lifeguards, who had already begun searching the sea and shoreline.
Human remains believed to be linked to a missing South African National Defence Force (SANDF) member have been discovered in the Nkomazi River along the South Africa–Mozambique border. Mpumalanga police said a fisherman found a human head floating in a remote part of the river.
5 Bodies recovered in KZN flooding
In a related article, Briefly News reported that KwaZulu-Natal's disaster management recovered five bodies that had been washed away during the recent heavy flooding in the province.
The victims were swept away in Lamontville. Three of the victims were children, while two of them were elderly members of society.
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Source: Briefly News
