Another life tragically lost at Manie Mulder

Manie Mulder Adventure Park has long been referred to as a treasure in the heart of Roodepoort. Apart from the spectacular flora and fauna, the waterfall attracts residents and pilgrims alike.

However, sadness is once again looming over Ward 83 as the body of another unsuspecting pilgrim, who had been visiting the holy waters, was pulled from the water on Sunday morning, 14 March. The Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch (RNW) had spent the previous two days patrolling the area and cautioning the pilgrims outside not to enter the park after 10pm, but unfortunately their pleas seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.

The drowning victims are usually young men who are accompanied by their church elders to cleanse themselves in the water, but they either slip from the top of the waterfall, or do not realise the depth of the water and become trapped in a 2,5m deep cavern directly below the falling water. The fact that the pilgrims only seem to enter the park under the cover of darkness, with limited visibility, makes matters worse, and the bodies are usually only recovered the next morning.

According to Ward 83 councillor, Florence Roberts, the latest incident brings the waterfall’s death toll to 27 over the past six to seven years, four of which have occurred in the last few months. After two bodies were recovered in less than three weeks during October last year, the Record made contact with Councillor Margaret Arnolds, the MMC for Community Development, who at the time seemed eager to assist. The MMC claimed that investigations were under way as to how to prevent further drownings, and that she would be making contact with the Mogale City Local Municipality to come up with safety precautions that would allow the pilgrims to perform their religious rituals without compromising their safety. However, numerous queries as to the progress of these plans have gone unanswered.

Florence Roberts and the DA Shadow MMC for Community Development, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, have expressed their frustration at the fact that their queries to Councillor Arnolds have also gone unanswered. The Record also sent several questions to the MMC and requested statements regarding the drownings, but our queries were merely forwarded to City Parks, which has no jurisdiction over drownings at the waterfall.

In previous statements, Councillor Arnolds said the responsibility for safety measures would be shared by CoJ and Mogale City as it is a shared property, but she is now claiming that Manie Mulder Adventure Park does not fall under CoJ at all. Florence has confirmed that it definitely falls within her CoJ ward, with only one of the boundary fences bordering Mogale City.

Florence said she raised the park’s safety issues in council in November last year, but to date, nothing has been done. Together with Belinda, Florence is suggesting a public-private partnership to help maintain the park, whereby all interested resident groups, NGOs, religious organisations, and traditional healers work together to help make the park a source of pride for the local community. The ward councillor also said the park needed properly trained rangers who can assist with access control and stay alert to potential dangers visitors may face. She continued to say that she is putting together a site visit with the Mogale councillor to discuss safety at Manie Mulder.

Florence extended her condolences to the family of the latest drowning victim, and was calling on the City again to put a clear plan in place to prevent further tragedies. “This is particularly important with the upcoming Easter long weekend which will see a greater number of religious activities and attendees at the facility,” she said. She further urged visitors to Manie Mulder not to swim after dark and to adhere to the times when they are permitted to enter the park.

Should a response be received from Councillor Arnolds, an update will be published.