Adding to the iron drowning of three family members on New Year’s Eve at Henley bridge, the incident occurred whilst the bridge was undergoing a revamp to make it safer.

The search continues for the body of Manzi Mayisa (35), one of three family members who lost their lives during Sunday’s heavy rains.

Makhosi Mazibuko (39), her daughter, Ntandoyenkosi Mazibuko (6), and Manzi Mayisa (35) were on their way home when their car got swept off the overflowing low-lying Henley Bridge.

Pietermaritzburg police spokesperson Sergeant Sifiso Gwala said the three family members were coming back from town travelling in a VW polo on Sunday at around 17:00.

“Makhosi and her daughter’s bodies were found on Monday morning by SANDF members who discovered a car and found the two bodies inside.

“Mayisa’s body is still missing and the search continues,” he said.

Ward 4 councillor Mlungisi Zondi said it was unfortunate that the incident occurred while the Henley bridge was currently under construction to make it safer, in response to previous drowning incidents, also due to heavy rainfall.

Zondi said it was painful to continue to witness more people losing their lives crossing this bridge during rainy weather.

He urged residents not to take shortcuts over low-lying bridges, and rather to take the safer, alternative route during heavy rains, even though it is longer.

“What makes it worse is that even in the last incident, it was a family that was swept away in a car. We always urge people to fear water because it is a dangerous force.

“There is an alternative route that residents can use apart from this one, the only thing is that it is longer. But residents should use it rather because it is safe, especially during the heavy rains,” he said.

He said that following several incidents that took place at the bridge over the past two years, the minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) visited the site last year and ordered that the bridge be revamped.

“As I am talking to you there, is a team on site who are working on that bridge. We know that it might not be as fast as we want it to be, but the work has started.”

He said the project was delayed due to the forest area having to be cleared first before work on the bridge could commence.

“The work is continuing but we would like to warn people not to risk their lives by using that bridge, especially after rains,” he said.

In a statement, Msunduzi Municipality said the deputy mayor will be conducting a site visit and a visit to the family this morning. In 2022, four people lost their lives on Henley bridge due to heavy rains and the April floods.

In one incident a lecturer who worked in Nongoma was swept away whilst returning home for the holidays.

During the April floods, SAPS search and rescue officer Sergeant Busi Mjwara and her rescue dog Leah both lost their lives while searching for three family members who were swept away off the Henley bridge during the floods.

In a separate incident, The Witness last week reported that another woman was also swept away by the Msunduzi River next to the Lay Centre in Edendale.

It is believed that Zinhle Makhaye (37), who is a traditional healer, had gone to the river with a family member to perform a cleansing ceremony. The river was full due to ongoing heavy rainfall.

It is believed that she slipped in the river while preparing for the cleansing ceremony.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Sifiso Gwala said the police have opened a missing person case and the search continues.