Tragedy As 14 Mapositori Drown In SA

05/12/2022

1 minute read

Tragedy As 14 Mapositori Drown In SA — File Picture; Johane Masowe Churchgoers Drown [Image: Zimbabwe Mail]

Fourteen Johane Masowe church congregants have been confirmed dead after drowning in a river on Saturday evening during a baptism ceremony.

Thirty-three members of the Alexandra White Garment Church were on their way to be baptized in the Jukskei River in Morningside, Johannesburg, when a flash flood occurred, resulting in the tragedy.

According to eyewitnesses, the congregants were standing on river rocks when a flood of water poured down. The church leader reportedly narrowly avoided death by holding on to an overhanging tree branch while being swept away.

The police, fire service and specialist aquatic rescue teams, will continue searching today for three people who are still missing.

Spokesperson of the City of Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services Robert Mulaudzi told eNCA that the teams first recovered two drowned bodies on Saturday before 12 others were retrieved on Sunday from the Jukskei River, bringing the count to 14.

Johane Masowe churchgoers drown — *Officials searching for victims after Johane Masowe mapositori drown [Image: Screenshot from the video]*

“Our residents, especially congregants who normally practice these kinds of rituals, will be tempted to go to these river streams. Our message for them is to exercise caution as and when they conduct these rituals,” Mulaudzi said.

Victor Ncube, a member of the Johane Masowe church, told the media that he rescued five people from the river who had been swept 100 metres downstream.

Watch below the official rescue team searching for the people who drowned in the Jukskei River.

05/12/2022

1 minute read