POLICE RETRIEVE BODY, SIX DAYS AFTER DROWNING
Nelspruit: 23 March 2023 – When community members breathed a sigh of relief following the recent floods that claimed a number of lives, police had to deal with yet another drowning incident in Tonga.
Unlike drownings witnessed recently which were mainly accidental, the current drowning of a 27-year-old male is regrettable and police believe that it could have been avoided if people adhered to the call by police to refrain from any form of mob justice.
It is reported that the victim and his friend were allegedly trying to save their lives from the angry mob in Tonga when they ran into Nkomazi river.
One of the two victims is said to have managed to successfully swim across the river whilst his fellow disappeared in the heavy current of Nkomazi river on Friday, 17 March 2023.
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His body was spotted by the Police’s Airwing yesterday morning, 22 March 2023, six days after he went missing, about five kilometres from the scene where he reportedly drowned.
After his body was retrieved, paramedics were summoned and he was unfortunately certified dead on the scene. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death that led to the attack and those involved.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi reiterated that whenever there are any suspicions of crime committed then community members should utilise the services of the police rather than taking reckless decisions which might end up claiming people’s lives.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
