Traditional healer trainee drowns in Bushbuckridge

The Mpumalanga police have issued a warning following the death of a traditional healer trainee who drowned in the Rainbow River in the Majembeni Trust, Bushbuckridge.

On Monday morning, February 5, a provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said, “A trainee traditional healer aged 25 has reportedly drowned in the Rainbow River while performing some rituals, an incident which triggered the police to warn communities to be wary of such incidents.”

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The incident occurred on Sunday morning, February 4, at about 09:00. “According to information, three male trainees and a female traditional healer went to the river to perform some rituals. During the process, one of the trainees disappeared in the river. A search was conducted without any luck. The matter was immediately reported to the police, and police divers were summoned to the scene. Sadly, the body was retrieved after three hours, at about 12:00. Information currently known is that there were no visible injuries on the deceased’s body, however, an inquest is being investigated by the police,” Mdhluli said.

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The police have cautioned members of the public to be extra careful when conducting activities in the rivers. Due to continuous rainfall experienced in most areas, it should be noted that the rivers and dams are swollen, which poses a danger to anybody entering them, regardless of how experienced they may be.