Lifestyle

SO SAD: Church member drowns during baptism in South Africa

Published

1 year ago

March 20, 2023

A young South African man drowned during baptism at Groot Letaba River in Nwamarhanga village, Limpopo.

The 27-year-old guy allegedly fell into the ocean after his baptism and died on Saturday, March 18.

According to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, spokesman for the Limpopo police, who verified the event in a statement on Sunday, the victim was Ronald Rikhotso.

“The police in Giyani have opened a case of inquest after a baptism took a tragic turn when a 27-year-old male congregant slipped into the water and drowned soon after baptism in Groot Letaba River in Nwamarhanga village on March 18, 2023.

According to the information, the church congregants led by their priest had been performing religious rituals and after they concluded the session, one of the congregants went back to the river to collect water. The 27-year-old man, identified as Ronald Rikhotso, reportedly slipped and drowned,” he said.

According to Colonel Ledwaba, the corpse was pulled from the river by divers from the SAPS Provincial Search and Rescue Team after the police were informed of the occurrence.

“The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe cautions members of the community to be careful and wary when using dams and rivers for any purpose including religious activities,” he said.