The body of a traditional healer was retrieved from the Crocodile River by police divers on Sunday, three days after he drowned. While conducting rituals on rocks in the river in KaNyamazane on Thursday, 64-year-old Wilfred Johannes Mashego slipped and disappeared under the water.

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A friend was with him when the incident occurred but was unable to do anything to save Mashego.

A provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, said: “Mashego and a prophet were praying and performing rituals in the river. The prophet confirmed that Mashego slipped and disappeared under the water while performing the rituals. He tried to spot his friend in the water but there was no sign of Mashego.”

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Ndubane said the prophet rushed to the traditional healer’s house to inform his wife.

“After sharing the horrifying news with her, they both went to the police station to report it,” she said. The police diving unit conducted the search from Thursday until they found him on Sunday around 12:00, when his body was retrieved and he was certified dead by emergency services.