The body of Sandile Nyawose (33) of the Mdlazi area in Izingolweni, who is believed to have drowned while crossing the Shoba River last Saturday evening, was found in the Umtwamvuna River on the Eastern Cape side on September 30.

The community, family and friends had been searching for him, and on September 28, they had slept near the river, praying and hoping his body might surface.

Furthermore, Saps Search and Rescue were also involved in the search.
According to a friend, No Diya, Sandile was found in a section of the river they had been searching for the past few days.

“When we found his body, we called the police, and while we were waiting, the current started moving it down the river again.”

The Herald has reported several times on the Shoba River, which connects to the Umtwamvuna River, where the community has been pleading with the KZN Department of Transport and Ray Nkonyeni Municipality for a river bridge.

In 2025, the community tried to fix the bridge. Residents were concerned for the safety of their children and their own lives, as it had been reported before that people had drowned and some were fortunate to have survived.

Nomawethu and Mawethu Nyawose said a friend told them about their son, Sandile’s incident at about 21:00, and that they should go down to the river because he had drowned.

“We are devastated by the loss of our son.”

According to Diya, Sandile and another friend visited her for a few hours on the day of the incident.
She said after they left, she heard a noise.

“I kept hearing an unsettling noise, and eventually I went to check down by the river, and when I got there, Sandile was in the middle of the river holding on to a rock.”

Diya said she went into the water and tried to help him, but he let go. She saw him float down the river, and that is when she called for help.

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