LIMPOPO – A 53-year-old traditional healer from the Thohyandou area was rescued from the mountainous area of the Mphaphuli Nature Reserve (Sambandou) on Friday, 6 December, five days after he and his friend visited the area to collect herbs.
Mpfunzeni Solomon Ramashia from the Haluvhimbi location and his friend Moris Sambo (47) had become separated after Ramashia reportedly stayed behind to speak to the ancestors. His friend returned home. Ramashia did not return home and was reported missing at the Thohyandou Police Station on Monday, said Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo.
On Wednesday a rescue team comprised of members from the Police Search and Rescue Unit, the K9 Unit, Public Order Police, the Airwing Unit, EMS Search and Rescue and local residents, led by Sambo, conducted a search in the identified area. The search continued on Thursday and after the team heard faint screams coming from the mountain side, a helicopter was summoned.
Bad weather however hampered the search and the victim could only be rescued on Friday. It is alleged he had fallen and was trapped in tree branches.
The exhausted Ramashia was thereafter taken to hospital where he is still recuperating, Mojapelo concluded.
