Two women and a man have drowned during a ritual in a river in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday morning.
It is alleged that three people drowned during a ritual at the Ngwangwane River in uMzimkhulu, ward 2, around 5.30am on Sunday.
The victims are Boniwe Mzamani, 30, Sisama Bhunge, 20, and Sphelele Dlamini, 37.
According to reports from the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, the victims participated in a religious ritual when the tragedy occurred. Community members discovered the bodies on Sunday and Monday morning and alerted the authorities.
KZN Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
He also directed disaster management teams to provide comprehensive support to the affected families during this difficult time.
“This is a devastating loss, and my thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who perished,” Buthelezi said.
“I urge all residents across the province to exercise extreme caution around rivers and other bodies of water, especially when engaging in activities that may pose a risk. Supervision is crucial, and we must all be mindful of the potential dangers.”
Meanwhile, the Reaction Unit SA (Rusa) R44 Robinson helicopter was activated to help in the search for a 13-year-old boy on the South Coast.
Rusa spokesperson Prem Balram said the pilot and crew from Rusa will fly 129km to uMzumbe Beach in Hibberdene to search for Armaan Khan, who was washed out to sea on Saturday.
Armaan’s uncle, a metro police officer, who tried to save him, also drowned. His body was recovered shortly after.
Balram said the Rusa Operations Centre received several calls from the family and the public for aerial assistance in locating the teenager’s body after several days of unsuccessful search efforts.