On Now
Weekdays 23:00 - 23:59
Overnight Oscar
NEXT: N/A N/A with N/A
Listen Live Streams

Local News

Two men drown during traditional ritual

───   11:25 Mon, 18 Dec 2017

Two men drown during traditional ritual | News Article
Bodies retrieved from the river by police divers, Sgt Liau Ramateletsi, WO Hollie Holtshauzen and Captain Conrad Coetzee.

An inquest docket has been registered following the retrieval of the lifeless bodies of two men from Sand River (Tikwe) on Saturday 16 December 2017 between 08:00 and 10:00 in the morning.


It is alleged that on Friday 15 December 2017 at about 18:00 a group of people from Thabong in Welkom went to the river where a traditional healing ritual was to be performed inside the river. It was reported that seven people walked into the river, but two of them were caught off-guard by the depth of the river and drowned.

SAPS divers attended the scene on Saturday morning in search of the two bodies. The first body of an 18-year-old man was found not far from where they drowned. The second body, that of a sangoma aged 27, was found several metres from the drowning spot. It was already floating on top of the water. Both were certified dead on the scene and taken to the Welkom state mortuary.

The acting station commander of Virginia, Lt Col Thabo Coobi, warned community members to be aware of the dangers of rivers. “The most important rule is that everyone should respect water and the surrounding environment. People should refrain from using the river if they cannot swim, especially if there are no lifesavers around in case of drownings,” said Coobi.


Statement


@ 2024 OFM - All rights reserved Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | We Use Cookies - OFM is a division of Central Media Group (PTY) LTD.