The family of a one-year-old boy who died after falling into an open stormwater drain in Samora Machel, Cape Town, is demanding accountability from the City of Cape Town. Bunono Ndlakuse died on October 31, 2026, after falling into the drain along Hintsaka Pahlo Street, where a private contractor had reportedly been working on a collapsed sewer since August.
The family, represented by spokesperson Nkosikhona Swaartbooi, has written to Mayor Geordin-Hill Lewis and City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo, expressing their concerns and demanding action. They are still struggling to come to terms with the loss, and Swaartbooi said, "As a family, we are broken. No parent should bury a one-year-old child."
According to the family, the incident was a tragedy that could have been prevented if the infrastructure of the drain was complete. They have challenged the City to do better and are seeking meaningful engagement, support for affected families, and accountability. The family recently shared their pain in an open letter to the mayor and city manager after officials reached out to them.
The Movement for CARE, a civil rights organisation, is working with the family and says it is currently assisting approximately 12 families whose children have lost their lives due to unsafe play spaces and dangerous municipal infrastructure across Cape Town. The organisation says this number is concerning and that Bunono's death is not an isolated incident.
The group stated that many mothers are carrying the same pain and that it is essential to bring about change. They questioned how many more children must die before something changes, highlighting a broader and deeply concerning pattern of child deaths due to unsafe infrastructure.
For now, the family says they are holding onto the hope that Bunono's death will force change. They do not want his life to be in vain and want the City to fix what is dangerous so that no other family has to feel what they are feeling. Swaartbooi said, "We do not want Bunono to be just another name. We want his life to mean something."
The family and civil rights organisations are pushing for the City of Cape Town to take responsibility and ensure that children have safe spaces to play. The incident has brought attention to the need for improved safety infrastructure and accountability within the city.
Key points
- The family of Bunono Ndlakuse is demanding accountability from the City of Cape Town after his death in an open stormwater drain.
- The Movement for CARE is working with approximately 12 families whose children have died due to unsafe play spaces and municipal infrastructure.
- The incident has highlighted a broader pattern of child deaths due to unsafe infrastructure in Cape Town.
