Police have opened an inquest docket after a 59-year-old woman and two teenagers drowned while being baptised in the Wellas River in Mpumalanga on Sunday.
According to the authorities, the incident happened at about 10am behind Extension 22 in Embalenhle.
According to a police report, a church leader and members of the congregation had gathered by the river to pray. However, the woman and the teens, who were 17 and 19 years old, went into the water to be baptised.
Declared dead at the scene
“While they were in the river, the water level suddenly started rising. The 59-year-old woman reportedly lost her footing and grabbed onto the two teenagers to try to steady herself,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Jabu Ndubane.
All three then lost their balance and went under the water. The church leader tried to rescue the trio but could not reach them in time.
“Police were called to the scene, and the South African Police Service search and rescue team was brought in,” Ndubane said.
“The bodies of all three victims were [later] recovered from the river and declared dead at the scene.”
The circumstances surrounding the tragedy are still being investigated. “The public is urged to approach rivers and dams with caution.”
Somalis blamed for disappearance
In a separate incident, spaza shop owner Mazwi Kubheka (27) from Vosloorus in Ekurhulen, east of Johannesburg, has been reported missing.
He was last seen at Marimba Gardens on April 2 when he left in the morning to deposit money at the bank.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba paid a visit to Kubheka’s family, where he discovered allegations that there are Somalis who are behind Mazwi’s disappearance.
“We were called by the family to help find their missing son. His disappearance happened almost a month ago,” Mashaba said.
We believe, from the side of the family, that there are Somalis involved. We cannot sit back and allow this to happen in our country.”
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- A 59-year-old woman and two teenagers (aged 17 and 19) drowned during a baptism in the Wellas River, Mpumalanga, after the water level suddenly rose and they lost their footing.
- The incident happened around 10am behind Extension 22 in Embalenhle while a church congregation was praying by the river.
- Rescue efforts by the church leader and police search and rescue team failed; all three were declared dead at the scene.
- Police have opened an inquest docket and continue investigating the circumstances of the drowning.
- Separately, a spaza shop owner, Mazwi Kubheka (27), went missing in Vosloorus, with his family alleging possible involvement of Somalis in his disappearance, drawing attention from ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba.
