This is the second body to be retrieved by the police divers after the body of the 14-year-old Moratehi Radebe was retrieved on Wednesday. Police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, says the retrieval of the 14-year-old Siphiwe Mlangeni on Thursday brought closure and ended the lengthy search which took almost a week. 

He says Mlangeni was identified by his father before he was taken to the government mortuary where a post-mortem will also be conducted to determine the cause of death. It's alleged that Mlangeni and Radebe were with another schoolboy of their age and were walking together to the river next to the railway line, not far from their homes, to pick herbs.

The search, which included the SAPS Diving Unit, was previously called off due to the high level of water and heavy current in the river. It's understood that the divers were worried about the high water levels at the dam.

This is the second tragic incident to hit the province following the drowning of seven kids and one adult last month in Steynsrus, which falls under the Moqhaka Local Municipality. Bethlehem falls under the Dihlabeng Local Municipality.

OFM News