The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has appointed a senior counsel to independently investigate the drowning of two young boys at a road construction site in Mamelodi, Tshwane.
Advocate Thomas Bokaba has been appointed to find the relevant facts and accountability for the deaths and also establish failures on the part of the Department, contractor.
Two boys, aged 4 and 7, from Kopanong informal settlement drowned in a quarry at a road construction site along the K54, part of the upgrading of Solomon Mahlangu Drive.
Although commissioned by the Department, MEC Jacob Mamabolo stressed that the investigation will be completely independent of the Department and the findings and recommendations will be those of the investigator alone.
"The Department's role will be to provide the investigator with access to all materials and information within its power and control that the investigator regards as relevant to the purposes of the Investigation. 
"Investigation into the incident would be "completely independent of the Department, and the findings and recommendations" stressed the MEC.
"The Department will also assist with facilitating meetings with any person who may have information relevant to the investigation as well as provide such assistance as may be necessary for the investigator to obtain materials and information requested from third parties," Mamabolo explained. 
The investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the principles of natural justice, respecting the confidentiality of information received on that basis, rights of privacy and the security of information.
The report shall be completed and delivered to the Department as soon as is reasonably possible, bearing in mind the need for a thorough investigation. The findings and recommendations shall be disclosed publicly.
"We would like to caution against dangerous speculations and encourage everyone to await the outcomes of the investigation," said the MEC. 
The two boys, from Kopanong Informal Settlement in Mamelodi, drowned in a quarry at a road construction site along the K54, part of the upgrading of the Solomon Mahlangu Drive. The MEC had earlier in the week visited the affected families to extend his condolences.