Woman (20) drowns in Nandoni Dam after falling off a boat
Members of the Search and Rescue Team of the South African Police Service were summoned to the scene and on arrival, an assessment of the dam was made and it was found to be infested with crocodiles.
LIMPOPO – The South African Police Service in Limpopo has noted with concern the increasing number of drownings that are reported on a frequent basis. This, after a total of ten (10) people drowned in dams and rivers across the province from the beginning of October 2018.
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The latest incident took place at Nandoni Dam, in Thohoyandou, where a 20-year-old woman drowned after allegedly falling from a boat on Wednesday, 31 October.
According to police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, the deceased, another passenger and a driver were cruising in the dam when she allegedly fell into the water and disappeared.
“Members of the Search and Rescue Team of the South African Police Service were summoned to the scene and on arrival, an assessment of the dam was made and it was found to be infested with crocodiles. This called for a different method of searching for the deceased’s body; instead of diving into the water, the police divers had to make use of the boat to conduct the search. Members will continue searching until the body is recovered,” he added.
The province is already in the rainy season and the expectation is that water levels in our dams will start increasing and rivers will start flowing.
“A stern warning is issued to all communities to exercise extreme caution when visiting dams or crossing rivers. Parents are urged to warn their children not to go swimming without supervision. Boating should be done in accordance with the prescripts and people are advised to always wear life jackets when boating,” Mojapelo advised.
Any drowning incident must be reported to the nearest police and toll free number 0860010111
