An inquest has been opened into the death of a soldier from 6SAI Battallion after he got into difficulty while swimming at the Rhodes University pool last weekend.
Lance Corporal Thulani Giqwa was at the pool with his girlfriend and two friends, according to police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender, who confirmed the inquest.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said Giqwa was a good swimmer and no one understood why he had drowned.
“He was with friends it happened late afternoon not sure of the time. That is all we know,” the source said.
A friend who posted about his death on social media said he was taken to Settlers Hospital and passed away at 7.45pm on Sunday 14 November. There was little other information except that someone had pulled him out of the water.
“Special thanks to the lady who pulled my brother drowning in the swimming pool at Rhodes University,” the man posted. It’s not clear that he is actually related, however, and Grocott’s Mail was unable to contact him to confirm this.
Grocott’s Mail had not received comment from either 6SAI or Rhodes University at the time of going to press.
