Drop in festive season drownings across Zululand

While drownings were reported across the Zululand region over the Christmas and New Year period, only one fatal and one near drowning occurred within the City of uMhlathuze.

The near-drowning took place at Alkantstrand on Tuesday afternoon. A female was rescued from the sea and transported to Ngwelezana Hospital in a stable condition.


Here is a list of the reported drownings since just before Christmas
• 23 December: A mother (21) and child (4) drowned in the Mtunzini area. Their bodies were recovered by Saps Empangeni Search and Rescue divers the following day.

• 23 December: The body of an adult male was recovered by Saps Empangeni Search and Rescue divers from a river in Mahlabathini after his vehicle plunged into the river.

• 25 December: The body of a nine-year-old was recovered by the community in the Mbongolwane area.

• 26 December: A male drowned in the Pongola River in the Ndumo area. His body was recovered by police divers.

• 28 December: A 50-year-old holidaymaker from Louis Trichardt drowned at Sodwana Bay. His body was recovered by local divers.

• 29 December: The body of a female was retrieved by Saps Empangeni Search and Rescue divers from the Mfolozi River in the Ulundi area.

• 29 December: The body of a child was recovered at the Bay Hall area in Richards Bay by the Saps ORS Sea Borderline Unit.

• 1 January: An 11-year-old boy drowned in Ndumo. His body was recovered by Saps Empangeni Search and Recue divers the following day.

• 1 January: In two separate incidents, two young men drowned in Amatikhulu. The bodies of both victims (21 and 26) were recovered by Saps Empangeni Search and Rescue divers the following day.

• 4 January: Near-drowning at Alkantstrand in Richards Bay. A woman was rescued and taken to hospital in a stable condition.