A young South African man drowned during his baptism at the Groot Letaba River in the Limpopo village of Nwamarhanga.
The 27-year-old man allegedly drowned in the ocean after his baptism on Saturday, March 18.
The victim, according to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, spokesman for the Limpopo police, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, was Ronald Rikhotso.
“The police in Giyani have opened a case of inquest after a baptism took a tragic turn when a 27-year-old male congregant slipped into the water and drowned soon after baptism in Groot Letaba River in Nwamarhanga village on March 18, 2023.
According to the information, the church congregants led by their priest had been performing religious rituals and after they concluded the session, one of the congregants went back to the river to collect water. The 27-year-old man, identified as Ronald Rikhotso, reportedly slipped and drowned,” he said.
Colonel Ledwaba stated that the body was recovered from the river by divers from the SAPS Provincial Search and Rescue Team after the police were informed of the incident.
“The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe cautions members of the community to be careful and wary when using dams and rivers for any purpose including religious activities,” he said.
