LIMPOPO – In an attempt to feed his family during the national lockdown, the 31-year-old Rabelani Nephawe of Tswinga village outside Thohoyandou went fishing in the Luvuvhu River last Monday afternoon.
Tragedy struck, and two days later, his body was recovered from the water.
Friends who had accompanied him at the time, told of how they saw a crocodile attacking Nephawe, before his body disappeared under the water.
Sophy Makwarela, the family spokesperson, said the family was hungry, and that Nephawe had come up with the plan to go fishing with a group of friends.
“He was unemployed and thus depended on piece jobs. After the lockdown was announced, there was no means anymore to earn an income. The incident has left us saddened.”
Nephawe was buried in the village of Tswinga, on Sunday.
Limpopo Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed that an inquest had been opened after the remains of the 31-year-old fisherman were recovered on Wednesday.
“The local police were notified of the incident and responded quickly. Members of the police’s Search and Rescue unit were mobilised and started the recovery operation. Following a two-day search, his remains were recovered on Wednesday.”
He confirmed that a police investigation was still underway.
Over the weekend, national government and the private sector had initiated several emergency food scheme programmes to assist the poor. It was not immediately clear whether a similar initiative had been planned in the Thohoyandou area.
