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In recent months, water sport resort Blue Rock in Somerset West has been under fire for its poor safety standards after four deaths were reported at the resort since 2016, with the latest taking place on Wednesday, January 22.

Now, investigative journalism television series Carte Blanche announced it will be investigating ‘what lies behind the multiple fatalities, and who should be held accountable’ this Sunday evening (February 16).

In April 2016, a 19-year-old girl from Port Elizabeth drowned while swimming at the resort’s lake with her friends, with reports suggesting there were no lifeguards on duty at the time. In March 2018, a 20-year-old named Obakeng Maswanganye also drowned while swimming at Blue Rock with his family and once again, reports suggest there were no lifeguards on duty, with fellow resort visitors coming to Maswanganye’s aid.

Again in December 2019, a 28-year-old man named Thando Mpande drowned after attempting to save another visitor who was struggling in the waters. Recently, according to an official statement by South African Police Services (SAPS), a 29-year-old Russian diving trainee was retrieved from the waters there by a fellow diver, but not Blue Rock staff.

Lukas Reichmurth, owner and director of Blue Rock, said during a telephonic interview:  “Our rules say you must be able to swim to come here. This is why you must sign the indemnity form. We are not a kindergarten. We are not responsible for looking after people’s children and when six people drown in Gordon’s Bay, people accept it.”

Image: Twitter/@nicisaks

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