Two boys, aged 10 and 11, drowned in an open trench filled with underground water in Orange Farm on Wednesday after they climbed over construction site barricading.

According to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) one of the boys climbed over to test water level in the trenches, which are currently open for storm water drainage system construction, and fell in while the other tried to rescue him. Both boys subsequently drowned.

In a statement released on Thursday the JRA said it was saddened by the passing of the two boys. MMC for Transport Nonhlanhla Makhuba said, “I wish to express my sincerest condolences to the families and friends of these two children. The JRA has inspected the site today and paid their respects to the families following yesterday’s tragic drownings in Orange Farm.”

She confirmed that safety specialists from the JRA as well as the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) have closed the site and are currently investigating the incident, the Department of Labour has been notified, and an investigation report will follow in due course.