Daily Sun (August 15 2013) - GOGO Tryphina Zitha didn't hesitate when a wooden pont capsized on the Nkomazi River. She dived in and saved six people, including her daughter and grandson, who were struggling in the deadly croc-filled river.
BUT THE ONE SHE COULDN'T SAVE WAS HER OWN GRANDDAUGHTER, SIPHOSETHU!
The eight-year-old was lost in the swirling waters. So although gogo Tryphina (62) is the toast of Phiva Village, near Malelane in Mpumalanga, she is beside herself with grief.
"It took me a while to realise that while I was busy saving other people, Siphosethu was crying out and dying," sobbed the sad gogo. "I swam back in the river, all the way to the bottom, hoping to touch warm human flesh in the dark.
"I could not find her. I saved everyone else but not my own flesh and blood." The flat-bottomed wooden pont - a boat which is pulled by ropes from one river bank to the other - had 13 people on board when the rope broke and it capsized early on Monday morning.
Tryphina had just said goodbye to her daughter Sphiwe (34) who was taking her children Orlando Jun (2) and Siphosethu to their father, Orlando Matlombe, in Komatipoort. The pont is the quickest way to get to the town.
Midway, disaster struck and the 13 occupants, including farmworkers, were tossed into the water. But gogo Tryphina had taught herself to swim while growing up on a farm.
Without a moment's hesitation, she dived into the water and swam the 10m towards the overturned pont.
She first dragged her daughter Sphiwe out of the river, then her grandson Orlando Jun, and then four farmworkers. The other farmworkers could swim and managed to save themselves.
But as she stood on the banks of the river catching their breath, she suddenly realised Siphosethu was still missing and went back to try and find her - in vain.
The little girl's body was later found by police divers.
One of those rescued by the gogo, Lucky Ndlala (34) only had praise for the old woman.
He told Daily Sun: "I don't know how to swim, and I hope the Lord blesses the old woman for the gift she gave to my family by saving my life," he said.
"I pray that she also finds peace in her heart. She gave to others, yet her loss is greater."
Son-in-law Orlando Matlombe (38) said he was looking forward to meeting his kids because he spends most of his time working in Mozambique.
Mpumalanga police spokesman Colonel Leonard Hlathi said an inquest docket has been opened on the little girl who drowned.
- Daily Sun reported on the dangerous pont on 18 September last year. We said farmworkers risked their lives every day while crossing the river.
See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....
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